Merchants from Méridas’s Mercado “Lucas de Gálvez” reported an increase in the sales of sabucanes, apparently due to the approval of the initiative that eliminates the use of plastic bags in Yucatan.
According to the “Lucas de Gálvez” vendors, this measure is having a positive effect on the population, to the extent that several people have opted to purchase this type of bag to use when ordering or going to the supermarket.
Judith Domínguez Casanova, market tenant, said that in recent weeks there has been an increase of 30% in sales of sabucanes. “This is something that had not happened in a long time”, she said.
“Now they are going to eliminate the plastic bags at the supermarkets, people is going back to their roots, as they are now acquring these bags locally known as sabucanes”, she continued.
For years, there was practically no demand for sabucanes, but since they are going to eliminate the bags, straws, containers and all that, people is now looking for these items, ” she explained.
With more strict standards regarding the management of solid waste, which obviously involves plastic bags, it seems like the traditional grocery bags will become fashionable again.
The interviewee explained that there are different sizes of sabucanes, which range from the smal ones just to go run some errands to the corner store, the traditional conventional size, that most people use to go get groceries to prepare the meal of the day, to the larger ones that can be used when going to the mercado or supermarket to buy supplies for the whole week.
The prices of these items range from 8 to 100 pesos (40 cents to 5 USD), depending on the size. In fact, several citizens have pronounced themselves in favor of the use of the sabucán instead of plastic bags.
Mrs. Norma Polanco mentioned that she prefers to use this type of bag to be environmentally responsible, since the excessive use of plastic bags which always end up in the garbage, is bringing terrible consequences in terms of pollution.
“I have several sabucanes in my house, but since I forgot to bring one, I’m going to buy a new one right now,” Norma said.
In turn, Mérida resident Antonia Barbudo stated that she is not crazy about sabucanes, but she will start using them cause she is in favor of eliminating plastic bags. “I think it is a good measure for people to get used to another way of carrying their things, without contaminating the environment,” she said.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom with information from Punto Medio
