DACO, Retailers Assoc. to orient on use of reusable bags
From left: Lymaris Otero, Michael Pierluisi, and Walmart Puerto Rico’s Iván Báez, offer details of the joint campaign.
The Retail Trade Association, which groups major local and multinational chains, has joined efforts with the Consumer Affairs Department to educate and create awareness among consumers about the use of reusable bags and bans the use of plastic bags.
The campaign will use the #UsatuReusable hashtag to spread the word on Law 247 through June 30, when the ban on plastic bags goes into effect. As of July 1, businesses will face fines from DACO, as the Consumer Affairs Department is known in Spanish, if they continue offering disposable bags to clients.
“The members of our association are aligned with the fulfillment of this Law and we have joined DACO to begin a joint campaign in the press and in our establishments, to inform the consumer about the law that is in force,” said Lymaris Otero, executive director of the Retail Trade Association.
“Our goal is that beyond compliance with the law, customers realize that this is a necessary initiative, in vanguard and in tune with the worldwide trend of eradicating garbage that is not recycled, that takes hundreds of years to decompose and that affects the quality of our environment,” she said.
The campaign will include press ads, signage, workshops for retail employees, consumer orientations at points of sale, and delivery of reusable bags and bulletins or information leaflets in stores.
“I’m grateful to the Association for the initiative to approach DACO to collaborate in the orientation campaign,” Consumer Affairs Secretary Michael Pierluisi said.
The Retail Trade Association will be giving reusable bags and orientation material on Mar. 13-17 in stores at the Plaza del Sol and Plaza Las Américas shopping centers.
“We urge consumers to take their reusable bags to the shops and to contribute to the preservation of the environment,” Otero said.
“Like any change, at the beginning there is a bit of resistance, but we trust in the goodwill of citizens and the support of the merchants to reinforce it and make it a successful transition,” she added.
