Plastic Sucks: The Environmental Efforts of Grenada

Located in the southern Caribbean, Grenada is a nature lover’s dream with wide stretches of white-sand beaches, cascading waterfalls and one of the world’s only underwater sculpture parks. This tri-island getaway is where people go to appreciate the wonders of the rare leatherback turtle and the endangered Grenada dove in their natural habitats. The people of Grenada know that their home is a special place and are making some serious eco-friendly moves as a result.

The big change came with the recent ban on Styrofoam and straws in early 2019 as part of the Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act. The act began with the ban of Styrofoam sales in early March and slowly phased out all Styrofoam use in the following months. Grenada gave single-use plastics in the form of shopping bags, utensils, straws, cups and plates the axe in early February.

“Our brand is Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean. This legislation will greatly assist us in keeping our tri-island destination of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique clean and beautiful for citizens as well as visitors,” said CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, Patricia Maher.

The ban of these products is sure to be a relief for local wildlife as plastic and Styrofoam is majorly detrimental to their health. According to Environment America, scientists are finding plastic and Styrofoam fragments in 43 percent of marine mammal species and in 86 percent of all sea turtles, which often lead to fatalities for the animals.