Phase-out of lightweight plastic bags

Last updated

In the early 21st century, there has been a global movement towards the phase-out of lightweight plastic bags. [1] [2] Single-use plastic shopping bags, commonly made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, [3] have traditionally been given for free to customers by stores when purchasing goods: the bags have long been considered a convenient, cheap, and hygienic way of transporting items. Problems associated with plastic bags include use of non-renewable resources (such as crude oil, gas and coal), [4] difficulties during disposal, and environmental impacts. Concurrently with the reduction in lightweight plastic bags, shops have introduced reusable shopping bags.

Contents

Governments all over the world have taken action to ban the sale of lightweight bags, charge customers for lightweight bags, or generate taxes from the stores that sell them. [2] [5] The Bangladesh government was the first to do so in 2002, imposing a total ban on lightweight plastic bags. [6] Between 2010 and 2019, the number of public policies intended to phase out plastic carryout bags tripled. [7] As of 2022, such bans have been introduced in 94 countries, with varying degrees of enforcement, and 32 countries instead impose a charge per bag. Bans and charges have also been enacted by some local jurisdictions such as states, counties, territories and cities.

Issues

Plastic waste on the mounds of garbage in the Philippines Payatas-Dumpsite Manila Philippines02.jpg
Plastic waste on the mounds of garbage in the Philippines

Plastic bags cause many minor and major ecological and environmental issues. The most general issue with plastic bags is the amount of waste produced. Many plastic bags end up on streets and subsequently pollute major water sources, rivers, and streams.

Photodegraded plastic bag adjacent to hiking trail. Approx. 2,000 pieces 1 to 25 mm, three months' exposure outdoors. Photodegraded Plastic Bag.jpg
Photodegraded plastic bag adjacent to hiking trail. Approx. 2,000 pieces 1 to 25 mm, three months' exposure outdoors.

Even when disposed of properly, they take many years to decompose and break down, generating large amounts of garbage over long periods of time. Improperly discarded bags have polluted waterways, clogged sewers and been found in oceans, affecting the ecosystem of marine creatures. [3] The UN estimates that there will be more plastics than fish in the oceans by 2050 unless countries comes up with urgent measures to promote efficient production, use and waste management of plastics throughout their life cycles. [8]

Plastic bags have been found to contribute to global warming. After disposed of, if exposed to consistent sunlight the surface of such plastic produces significant amounts of two greenhouse gases - methane and ethylene. Furthermore, due to its low density/high branching properties, it breaks down more easily over time compared to other plastics leading to higher exposed surface areas and accelerated release of gases. Production of these trace gases from virgin plastics exponentially increases with surface area/time, thus LDPE emits greenhouse gases at a more unsustainable rate compared to other plastics. At the end of a 212-day incubation, emissions have been recorded at 5.8 nmol g-1 d-1 of methane, 14.5 nmol g-1 d-1 of ethylene, 3.9 nmol g-1 d-1 of ethane and 9.7 nmol g-1 d-1 of propylene. [9]

Two primary kinds of direct damage to wildlife are entanglement and ingestion. [10] Animals can become entangled and drown. [11] Plastic bags are often ingested by animals that cannot distinguish them from food. As a result, they clog their intestines which results in death by starvation. [11] Plastic bags can block drains, trap birds and kill livestock. The World Wide Fund for Nature has estimated that over 100,000 whales, seals, and turtles die every year [12] as a result of eating or being trapped by plastic bags. In India, an estimated number of 20 cows die per day as a result of ingesting plastic bags and having their digestive systems clogged by the bags. It is also very common across Africa to have sewers and drain systems clogged by bags which cause severe cases of malaria due to the increased population of mosquitoes that live on the flooded sewers. [13] The term "white pollution" has been coined in China to describe the local and global effects of discarded plastic bags upon the environment. [14]

Lightweight plastic bags are also blown into trees and other plants and can be mistaken for food. Plastic bags break down by polymer degradation but not by biodegradation. As a result, any toxic additives they contain—including flame retardants, antimicrobials, and plasticizers—will be released into the environment. Many of those toxins directly affect the endocrine systems of organisms, which control almost every cell in the body. [15] Research shows the average operating "lifespan" of a plastic bag to be approximately 20 years. [16]

Plastic bags dumped in the Pacific Ocean can end up in the Great Pacific garbage patch. 80% of the plastic waste comes from land; the rest comes from oil platforms and ships. [17] This can be eaten by marine animals, and block their breathing passages and digestive systems. Plastic bags not only add to the Great Pacific garbage patch, they can be washed ashore around the world. [18]

Methods

The two most popular methods of phasing out lightweight plastic bags are charges and bans. [7] The charge strategy is said to have all of the same results in plastic bag reduction as a plastic bag ban, with the additional benefit of creating a new revenue source. [19] The plastic bag charge method also protects consumer choice, which the ban does not. [19]

Recycling of plastic bags can be another method of phase-out. However, a big issue with recycling is that only 5% of plastic bags make it to recycling facilities, to begin with. [19] Even when bags are brought to these recycling bins and facilities, they often fly out of these bins or recycling trucks and end up as litter on the streets. If there are any facilities of avoiding the plastics from flying out this would be a better method [20] Another issue with recycling is that different bags are made from different yet aesthetically similar types of plastics. [19] Bags can be either made of bioplastics or biodegradable plastics, and if accidentally combined in a compost, the bioplastics could contaminate the biodegradable composting. [19] These bags can also jam recycling equipment when mixed with other types of plastic, which can be costly to repair. [20] For example, costs of repairs rounded out to be about $1 million per year in San Jose, California. [20]

Individuals can also engage in advocacy with local officials and local merchants. With the rise in eco-tourism [21] and green travel, there are many opportunities to say no to plastic. [22]

Impact

According to a 2018 study in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, a five-cent tax on disposable bags reduced disposable bag usage by 40 percentage points. [23] According to a 2019 review of existing studies, levies and taxes led to a 66% reduction in usage in Denmark, more than 90% in Ireland, between 74 and 90% in South Africa, Belgium, Hong Kong, Washington D.C., Santa Barbara, the UK and Portugal, and around 50% in Botswana and China. [7]

A 2019 study in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management found that the implementation of a ban on plastic carryout bags in California led to a reduction of 40 million pounds of plastic through the elimination of plastic carryout bags but that Californians purchased 12 million pounds of plastic through trash bag purchases. [24] The study showed that before the introduction of the ban between 12% and 22% of plastic carryout bags were re-used as trash bags. [24]

Criticism

Plastic bag bans can lead to larger black markets in plastic bags. [7] The production of some non-plastic bags (e.g. paper, cotton, using virgin plastic such as plastic having thickness of 50 micron) can produce more greenhouse gas emissions than plastic bags, which means that greenhouse gas emissions may increase on net following plastic bag bans. Further, the bans can drive significant increases in sales of trash bags. [7] [25] :1 [26] :254 [26] :270

Legislation around the world

Summary

Phase out of lightweight plastic bags around the world (laws passed but not yet in effect are not shown on map)
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Plastic bags banned
A charge on some plastic bags
Voluntary charge agreement
Partial charge or ban (municipal or regional levels) Plastic bag legislation.svg
Phase out of lightweight plastic bags around the world (laws passed but not yet in effect are not shown on map)
  Plastic bags banned
  A charge on some plastic bags
  Voluntary charge agreement
  Partial charge or ban (municipal or regional levels)
KeyCountry United Nations Regional Group LegislationNotesReferences
Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan Asia-PacificBan [27]
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Eastern EuropeBanSince 2018. [28]
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2017. [29]
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda Latin AmericaBan [30]
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Latin AmericaRegional banBanned in several provinces and cities. [31]
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia Eastern EuropeBanSince 2022. [32]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Western Europe and OthersRegional banLightweight plastic bags banned in all states and territories (except New South Wales, where a ban comes into effect from 1 June 2022). Lightweight plastic bags have been replaced by reusable thick 15¢ bags in the two major supermarket chains in all states and territories, including New South Wales. Norfolk Island has a voluntary agreement with retailers. [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2020. [40]
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Eastern EuropeBanSince 2021. [41]
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas Latin AmericaBanSince 1 July 2020. [42]
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain Asia-PacificBanSince 21 July 2019. [43]
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh Asia-PacificBanSince 2002. [44]
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados Latin AmericaBanSince April 2019. [45]
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Eastern EuropeCharge is being considered. [46]
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2016 in Wallonia, 2017 in Brussels, 2019 in Flanders. [47] [48]
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize Latin AmericaBanSince 22 April 2019 (Earth Day). [49] [50]
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin AfricaBanSince November 2017. [51] [52]
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan Asia-PacificBan [53]
Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg  Bolivia South AmericaRegional banBanned in La Paz. [54]
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Eastern EuropeCharge [27]
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana AfricaBanSince November 2018. [55]
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Latin AmericaRegional banBanned in Sao Paulo and the State of Rio de Janeiro. [56] [57]
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei Asia-PacificVoluntary charge [58]
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Eastern EuropeCharge [59]
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso AfricaBanSince 2015. [60] [52]
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi AfricaBanSince 22 August 2019. [61]
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Asia-PacificChargeSince October 2017. [62]
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon AfricaBanSince April 2014. [63]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Western Europe and OthersRegional banBanned in three provinces. Charge in Northwest Territories. Bans in several municipalities. Full ban planned for 2022. See section [64]
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde AfricaBanSince 2017. [65] [52]
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic AfricaBanSince 2021. [66]
Flag of Chad.svg  Chad AfricaRegional banBanned in N'Djamena. [67]
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Latin AmericaBanSince February 2019. [68]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China Asia-PacificBanSince 2022. Charge applied since June 2008. Replaced by ban, excluding fresh produce markets until 2025. Hong Kong and Macau apply a charge. [69] [70] [71] [72] [73]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China (Taiwan) Asia-PacificChargeSince 2003. Ban planned for 2030. [74] [75] [76] [77]
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Latin AmericaBanSince July 2017. Charge applied to reusable bags. [78] [79]
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros AfricaBanSince April 2018. [80]
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica Latin AmericaBanSince 2021. [81] [82]
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo AfricaBanSince 2018. [83]
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo AfricaBanSince 2011. [84]
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Eastern EuropeBanSince 2022. [85]
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Western Europe and OthersChargeSince 2018. [86]
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Eastern EuropeChargeSince 2018 [87]
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Western Europe and OthersChargeA tax on plastic bags since 1993. There is also a tax in Greenland. [88] [89]
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti AfricaBan [27]
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica North AmericaBanSince 2019. [90]
Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor Asia-PacificBanSince 23 February 2021. [91]
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador Latin AmericaChargeSince 9 May 2020. Banned in the Galápagos Islands. [92] [93]
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt AfricaRegional banBanned in Red Sea Governorate. [94]
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea AfricaBanSince 2005. [95]
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Eastern EuropeChargeSince July 2017. [88]
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia AfricaRegional ban [96]
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Asia-PacificBanSince 2020. [97]
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Western Europe and OthersVoluntary charge [98] [88]
Flag of France.svg  France Western Europe and OthersBanSince July 2016. Also banned in Overseas France. [99] [100] [101] [102] [103]
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon AfricaBanSince 2010. [104]
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia AfricaBanSince 2015. [105] [52]
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Eastern EuropeBanSince 2017. [106]
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2022. [107]
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Western Europe and OthersChargeSince 2018. [108]
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada Latin AmericaBanSince February 2019. [109]
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala Latin AmericaBanSince 2021. [110]
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau AfricaBanSince 2016. [111] [52]
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana Latin AmericaBanSince 2021. [112]
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Latin AmericaBan [113] [50]
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras Latin AmericaRegional banBanned in the Bay Islands Department. [114]
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Eastern EuropeChargeSince 2012. [88]
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2021. [115]
Flag of India.svg  India Asia-PacificBanSince 2002. Also banned at regional levels due to poor enforcement. [5] [116]
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Asia-PacificRegional bans and chargesCharges in 23 cities. Banned in Bali since June 2019 and Jakarta since July 2020. [117] [118] [119] [120]
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Western Europe and OthersChargeSince March 2002, a 0.15 Euro tax has been added to all plastic bags. Since these charges were added, there has been a 90% reduction in the use of plastic bags. [121] [122]
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Western Europe and OthersChargeSince January 2017. [123]
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Western Europe and OthersBanSince January 2011. [124]
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast AfricaBanSince 2014. [125] [52]
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Latin AmericaBanSince January 2019. [126] [50]
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Asia-PacificChargeSince July 2020. [127] [128] [129]
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Asia-PacificBan is being considered. [130]
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya AfricaBanSince 28 August 2017. [131]
Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati Asia-PacificBanSince October 2020. [132]
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan Asia-PacificBan is being considered. [133]
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Eastern EuropeChargeSince January 2019. [134]
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Asia-PacificRegional banBanned in Byblos. [135]
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Eastern EuropeChargeSince 31 December 2018. [88]
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Western Europe and OthersCharge [88] [98]
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar AfricaBanSince 2015. [136]
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi AfricaBans revoked several times. [80]
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia Asia-PacificRegional chargeCharges in two states. [137] [138]
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives Asia-PacificBanSince June 2021. [139]
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali AfricaBan [140] [52]
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2022. [88] [141]
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands Asia-PacificBan [142]
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania AfricaBanSince 2013. [143]
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius AfricaBanSince 2016. [144]
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Latin AmericaRegional banBanned in 18 states and Mexico City. [145] [146] [147]
Flag of Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Micronesia Asia-PacificBanSince 31 December 2020. [142] [148] [149] [150]
Flag of Moldova.svg  Republic of Moldova Eastern EuropeBanSince 2021. [151]
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2016. [152]
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia Asia-PacificBanSince March 2019. [153]
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Eastern EuropeBan has been proposed. [154]
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco AfricaBanSince July 2016. [155]
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique AfricaChargeSince 5 February 2016. [156]
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Asia-PacificRegional banBanned in Yangon. [157]
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia AfricaRegional banBanned in protected places. Levy approved but not implemented. [80] [158]
Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru Asia-PacificBanSince 23 April 2021. [159]
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal Asia-PacificBan [160]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Western Europe and OthersChargeSince 2016. Banned in Aruba, Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands. [161] [162] [163] [164] [165]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Western Europe and OthersBanSince July 2019. Also banned in Niue. Ban planned in the Cook Islands. [166] [167] [168]
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger AfricaBan [169] [52]
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria AfricaBan [170] [52]
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Eastern EuropeChargeSince 2009. [171] [172]
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Western Europe and OthersVoluntary charge [173]
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman Asia-PacificBanSince 2021. [174]
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Asia-PacificBanBanned independently in each of the country's provinces and territories from 1994 to 2019. [175] [176] [177] [178]
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau Asia-PacificBan [179]
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama Latin AmericaBanSince 20 July 2019. [180]
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Asia-PacificBanSince 2016. [181] [182]
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru Latin AmericaChargeSince August 2019. [183] [184]
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Asia-PacificRegional ban and chargesBanned in select cities of Metro Manila, excluding Taguig, Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Navotas, San Juan, and Parañaque. [185] [186] [187] [188] [189]
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Eastern EuropeChargeSince 2018. [190]
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Western Europe and OthersChargeSince 2016. [191]
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Eastern EuropeBanSince 2019. [88]
Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Federation Eastern EuropeBan planned for 2024. [192]
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda AfricaBanSince 2008. [193]
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Latin AmericaBanSince August 2020. [194]
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa Asia-PacificBanSince 2019. [195]
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino Western Europe and OthersBanSince 1 June 2021. [196]
Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  Sao Tome and Principe AfricaBan planned. [197]
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal AfricaBanSince April 2015. [198] [52]
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Eastern EuropeChargeSince 2018. Banned in Belgrade. [199] [200]
Flag of the Seychelles.svg  Seychelles AfricaBanSince 2017. [201]
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Eastern EuropeChargeSince March 2017. [88]
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Eastern EuropeChargeSince 2019. [202]
Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands Asia-PacificRegional banBanned in Western Province. [203]
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia AfricaRegional banBanned in Somaliland. [204] [205] [206] [207] [208]
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa AfricaChargeSince 2004. [209] [210]
Flag of South Korea.svg Republic of Korea Asia-PacificBanSince August 2018. [211]
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan AfricaBan [212]
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Western Europe And OthersChargeSince July 2018. Banned in Balearic Islands since 2020. [213] [214]
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka AsiaBanSince 2017. [215]
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan AfricaRegional banBanned in Khartoum State. [216]
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Western Europe and OthersCharge [217]
Flag of Switzerland.svg   Switzerland Western Europe and OthersVoluntary chargeBanned in Geneva since 2020. Voluntary charge elsewhere. [218] [219] [220] [221]
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania, United Republic of AfricaBanSince June 2019. [222] [223]
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Asia-PacificBanSince 2021. [224] [225]
Flag of Togo.svg  Togo AfricaBanSince July 2018. [226] [52]
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia AfricaBanSince March 2017. [227]
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Western Europe and OthersChargeAlso a ban in some regions. Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus also applies a charge. [228] [229] [230]
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu Asia-PacificBanSince August 2019. [231]
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda AfricaBanSince September 2007. [232]
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Eastern EuropeBanSince 10 December 2021. [233] [234]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Asia-PacificBan planned in Abu Dhabi for 2021. [235]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Western Europe and OthersChargeWales since 2011, Northern Ireland since 2013, Scotland since 2014 and England since 2015. Banned in Alderney, Anguilla, Gibraltar and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Voluntary charge in place in the Falkland Islands. Ban planned in British Indian Ocean Territory, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Charge in Saint Helena.
[236] [237] [238] [239] [240] [241]
[242] [243] [244] [245] [246] [247]
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Western Europe and OthersRegional bans and chargesBanned in nine states (one de facto) and five territories. Charges in Washington, D.C. Ban to go in effect for New Jersey in May 2022 and Colorado in 2024. Bans and charges in several municipalities. See main article
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay South AmericaBanSince July 2019. [248]
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Asia-PacificChargeSince 2019. [249]
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu Asia-PacificBanSince 31 January 2018. [250]
Flag of the Vatican City.svg   Vatican City Western Europe and OthersBanSince 2019. [251]
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen Asia-PacificBan [27]
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia AfricaBan announced but not implemented. [80]
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe AfricaBan [27]

Africa

Plastic waste in Karey Gorou, Niger Niger, Karey Gorou, (7) waste disposal.jpg
Plastic waste in Karey Gorou, Niger

Kenya

Kenya made the first attempt to ban the manufacturing and importation of plastic bags in 2007 and 2011 as a way to protect the environment. [252] The 2007 and 2011 ban targeting plastics below 30 microns failed after manufacturers and retail outlets threatened to pass on the cost of using other materials to consumers. [253] In 2017 the cabinet secretary of Environment and Natural resources, Prof Judy Wakhungu banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging under Gazette notice number 2356. [254] On 28 August 2017, Kenya began implementing a countrywide ban of single-use plastic bags. Primary packaging bags, hospital waste bags, and garbage bin liners have been exempted from the ban. The ban has been hailed as one of the most stringent in the world, with fines of up to $40000, or four years in prison. [131]

President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019, during World Environment Day, further solidified Kenya's efforts to fight plastic pollution and in the sustainable management of waste by banning single-use plastics in protected natural areas. [255] The ban, which came into effect on 5 June 2020, prohibits the use of plastics in National Parks, beaches, forests and conservation areas.

Nigeria

In May 2019, The House of Representatives of Nigeria banned the production, import and usage of plastic bags in the country. [52] [170]

Somalia

Plastic bags were banned in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland on 1 March 2005 after a 120-day grace period that the government had given to the public to get rid of their stocks. The Ministry of Trade and Industries announced the cabinet decision in a decree titled: "Banning importation, production and use of plastic bags in the country". The bags had been nicknamed "the Hargeysa flower", as many of them ended up being blown around and getting stuck in trees and shrubs, posing a danger to livestock because the animals that feed on the leaves often ingest the bags accidentally. In 2015 the ban was repeated by Presidential Decree No. #JSL/M/XERM/249-3178/042015, again providing for a 120 days grace period to get rid of stocks. To ensure the implementation of the ban, the government constituted enforcement teams in 2016 to conduct special drives which launch probes into business stalls. At least 1000 men and women in uniform deployed into the main markets and shopping malls. The government announced fines against violators who continue selling plastic bags in the country. [204] [205] [206] [207] [208]

South Africa

Plastic bags were a major concern in South Africa before the bag levy was introduced in 2004. The bags were never banned, but a levy was introduced, payable by the plastic bag manufacturer. The thicker plastic bags are levied and although this move initially caused outrage with consumers and an initial decline in volumes, consumers use has continually increased to several billion plastic shopping bags every year. [209] [210]

Tanzania

The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar banned plastic bags in 2005. [256] Tanzania introduced plans to implement a nationwide ban on plastic bags in 2006. [257] However, its ratification had been delayed for more than ten years. [258] The ban finally came into effect on 1 June 2019. [223]

Tunisia

Tunisia introduced a ban on plastic bag distribution in supermarkets starting from 1 March 2017. An agreement was signed between the Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment and large supermarket chains in the country to enact the first phase of a process aiming to reduce the consumption of plastic bags. [227] Tunisian activists are planning awareness campaigns to establish greener policies in the country. [259]

Uganda

Heap of trash including plastic bags in Kampala, Uganda Trash in kampala.jpg
Heap of trash including plastic bags in Kampala, Uganda

Uganda introduced legislation in 2007 to ban the sale of lightweight plastic bags under 30  µm thick and tax thicker bags at a punitive rate of 120%. Although the laws came into effect in September of that year, [232] they have not been enforced and have failed to measurably reduce the use of plastic bags. [260] The law is not well enforced. [261]

Asia

Bangladesh

A strict ban was introduced in Bangladesh in 2002 after floods caused by littered plastic bags submerged two-thirds of the country in water between 1988 and 1998. [44] Plastic bags remain a big problem for sewerage system and waterways.

Cambodia

Cambodia passed legislation to impose a plastic bag tax in October 2017. Supermarkets now charge customers 400 Riels (10 US cents) per plastic bag should they need one. [62]

China

A total plastic bag ban on ultra thin plastic bags and a fee on plastic bags was introduced in China on 1 June 2008. This came into effect because of the problems with sewerage and general waste. One 2009 survey suggests that plastic bag use fell between 60 and 80% in Chinese supermarkets, and 40 billion fewer bags were used. However, first hand accounts clearly indicate, the ban has seen limited success, and that the use of plastic bags remains prevalent. Street vendors and smaller stores, which make up a significant portion of retail in China, do not abide by the policy in part due to difficulties of enforcing the ban. [69]

The term "white pollution" (Chinese :白色污染; pinyin :baise wuran, less often "white garbage" Chinese :白色垃圾; pinyin :baise laji) appears to be local to China and later to South Asia, enjoying far less use and recognition outside of the region. It refers to the color of white plastic shopping bags, styrofoam containers, and other light-colored materials that began turning up in visible volume in agricultural fields, the landscape, and waterways in the mid- to late 1990's. The first references to the term "white pollution" appear in official language at least as early as 1999, when the first bans were imposed by the State Council. [262] [263] [264] [265] [266]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong forbids retailers from giving plastic bags under a certain thickness and for free. [5] A 50 cent plastic bag levy was implemented on 1 April 2015 across Hong Kong. The use of plastic bags dropped 90% after the introduction of the levy. [70] Signs show that Hong Kong is phasing out the use of plastic bags at a dramatic rate.

A sign proclaiming that polythene bags thinner than 30 um are prohibited in Kasaragod, Kerala, India. Malpublicinfoboard.JPG
A sign proclaiming that polythene bags thinner than 30 µm are prohibited in Kasaragod, Kerala, India.

India

In 2002, India banned the production of plastic bags below 20 µm in thickness to prevent plastic bags from clogging of the municipal drainage systems and to prevent the cows of India ingesting plastic bags as they confuse it for food. [5] [116] However, enforcement remains a problem.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also passed regulation to ban all polythene bags less than 50 microns on 18 March 2016. [267] Due to poor implementation of this regulation, regional authorities (states and municipal corporations), have had to implement their own regulation.

In 2016, Sikkim, India's first fully organic state, [268] banned the use of not only packaged drinking water bottles in any government meetings or functions but also food containers made from polystyrene foam all over the state. [269]

Himachal Pradesh was the first state to ban plastic bags less than 30 µm. The Karnataka state became first state to ban all forms of plastic carry bags, plastic banners, plastic buntings, flex, plastic flags, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic spoons, cling films and plastic sheets for spreading on dining tables irrespective of thickness including the above items made of thermacol and plastic which uses plastic micro beads. [270] [271] The state of Goa has banned bags up to 40 µm thick, [272] while the city of Mumbai bans bags below a minimum thickness to 50 µm. [273]

The state Government of Maharashtra banned plastic starting 23 June 2018. [274] The state Government of Tamil Nadu also banned plastic starting 1 January 2019. [275]

Indonesia

Starting in 2016, Environment Ministry enforced retailers in 23 cities across the archipelago (mini-market, hypermarket, and supermarket) to charge consumers for plastic bags between Rp.200 and Rp.5,000 for each bag including degradable plastic bags. And money which came from tax are used by retailers as public funds for waste management alongside non-governmental organizations. [117]

The island of Bali banned single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam effective July, 2019. [276] Other major cities, including Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Bogor, have since also banned single use plastic bags, particularly from modern retailers. [277]

Israel

Since January 2017, large retailers are required to charge consumers for plastic bags with handles, at NIS 0.10 for each bag. The tax revenues will be used to fund public waste-management programs.[ citation needed ] The average use of plastic bags in Israel in 2014 was 275 per person per year. [123] Four months after the law came into force, the number of disposable plastic bags distributed by retailers subject to the law had dropped by 80%. [278]

Philippines

The Philippines is the world's third-largest ocean polluter despite a waste management act which came into effect 18 years ago. Efforts to regulate plastics have been hampered by corruption, lack of political will, and the proliferation and wide accessibility of single-use plastic products. [279]

In 2010, Muntinlupa became the first local government in the National Capital Region to ban plastic bags and styrofoam in shops. [280] This was followed by the measures in the cities of Las Piñas (2 January 2012), Pasig (1 January 2012), Quezon City (1 September 2012, bags for a fee), Pasay (1 September 2012, bags for a fee), and Makati (30 June 2013). [281]

Metro Manila cities that have delayed imposing regulations and bans include Taguig, Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Navotas, San Juan and Parañaque, which are home to hundreds of plastics and rubber manufacturing companies. In one city, a mayor's family owns a 60-hectare "Plastic City Industrial" compound. [188]

On 4 July 2019, Senator Francis Pangilinan filed a bill seeking to phase out single-use plastic products by prohibiting importation, manufacture and use in food establishments, stores, markets, and retailers. [282] [283]

Taiwan

In January 2003, Taiwan banned the free distribution of lightweight plastic bags. [74] The ban prevented the owners of department stores, shopping malls, hypermarkets, convenience stores, fast food restaurants and regular restaurants from providing free plastic bags to their customers. Many stores have replaced plastic with recycled paper boxes. [284] In 2006, however, the administration decided to begin allowing free plastic bags to be offered by food service operators. [285] In February 2018, Taiwan announced plans to ban plastic bags in varying degrees, banned for in-store use by 2019, certain stores prohibited from offering bags by 2020, price increases starting 2025, then 2030 blanket ban of single-use plastic bags, as well as single-use utensils and containers. [75] [76] [77]

Europe

European Union

In November 2013, the European Commission published a proposal aiming to reduce the consumption of lightweight (thickness below 50 microns) plastic carrier bags. [286] Under the proposal, EU member states can choose the most appropriate measures to discourage the use of plastic bags. On 29 April 2015 the European Parliament passed Directive 2015/720 to reduce plastic bag use by 50% by 2017 and 80% by 2019. [287] [288] [ needs update ]

Denmark

In 2003, Denmark introduced a tax on retailers giving out plastic bags. This encouraged stores to charge for plastic bags and pushed the use of reusable bags. It was thought that this saved about 66% of plastic and paper bags. [289] In 2004, a similar law was passed by the Inatsisartut in Greenland, which applied a recycling tax on plastic bags. [89] By 2014 Denmark had the lowest plastic bag use in Europe, with 4 bags per person per year, compared to 466 in Portugal, Poland and Slovakia. [290]

Germany

Germany will ban all single-use plastic, including shopping bags in 2022. [107]

Greece

A plastic bag charge was introduced on 1 January 2018. [108] Initially bags cost 4 cents each, which then increased to 7 cents on 1 January 2019. [291]

Ireland

Ireland introduced a €0.15 tax in March 2002. Levied on consumers at the point of sale, this led to 90% of consumers using long-life bags within a year. This tax geared to change the behavior of consumers while still allowing them to choose if they want to pay an extra fee for plastic bags. [122] The tax was increased to €0.22 in 2007. The revenue is put into an Environment Fund, which is to be used for environmental projects; this is a major reason that consumers support this tax. [121] [122] A study was done to look at how consumers responded to the tax at checkout and 60% were neutral over the cost while 14% of respondent were "positive" to the extra charge and 26% responded negatively. [122]

Moldova

The Moldovan parliament passed legislation gradually beginning the phase-out of plastic bags from January 2019, with a full ban coming into force from 1 January 2021. [151]

Netherlands

The Netherlands implemented a comprehensive ban on free plastic shopping bags on 1 January 2016. The ban has a small number of exemptions for unpacked food products which are exposed to possible contamination, such as fresh fruit. The target price for a plastic bag is €0.25. [161]

Poland

A plastic recycling levy was introduced on 1 January 2018. Single-use plastic bags cost a minimum of 0.25 (inclusive of VAT), however stores are able to charge a higher amount. [190] The Polish government estimated that the levy would bring 1.1 billion złoty to the state budget in 2018, in addition to approx. 250 million złoty of VAT revenue raised on sales of the bags. [292]

Portugal

Portugal has implemented a plastic bag tax amounting to 10 cents (€) on single-use carrier bags, which led to a reduction of 90% in their use. [191] However, many retailers started selling thicker (reusable) plastic bags, which are not subject to the tax, for the same amount. Before the Portuguese government implemented this plastic bag tax, some supermarkets in Portugal had already implemented a 2 cent (€) fee on each plastic bag. [293]  In Madeira Island where supermarkets implemented this bag fee, there was a 64% reduction in plastic bag consumption. [293]

Romania

A law was introduced in 2006 (law 578/2006) – and was later modified in 2011 (law 1032/2011) – that put a mandatory tax on non-biodegradable plastic bags. A modification in 2011 reduced the tax on plastic bags and was regarded by some as a step backwards from environmental protection. [294] Lightweight plastic bags were banned on 1 January 2019. [88]

Serbia

Serbia has a tax on manufacturers and importers of plastic bags [199] and plans to introduce a ban on lightweight plastic bags and a charge on biodegradable bags in order to reduce bag use to under 90 per person by 2019. [295] Major supermarkets began charging 2 dinars per bag in 2018. [296]

Spain

Spain introduced a plastic bag charge on 1 July 2018. [213] Catalonia has had a bag charge since April 2017. [88] [297]

Switzerland

In 2016, the two largest chains of supermarkets in Switzerland, the Federation of Migros Cooperatives and Coop, announced that they will progressively stop to distribute free plastic bags (at the check-out). [218] Both distributors announced that they will not make money with paid bags, but that profits from their sale will be invested in environmental projects. [220]

Migros previously tested the measure in the Canton of Vaud since 2013: they reduced the number of plastic bags distributed by ninety percent (and saved 100,000 francs per year). [218] [219] Migros will be the first to introduce the measure across the country, on 1 November 2016 (the bags will be made with recycled plastic and cost 0.05 Swiss francs each). [218] [219] Coop plans to introduce this in 2017. [220]

United Kingdom

The Climate Change Act 2008 served as the legislative framework for the regulation of plastic bags in the United Kingdom. [298]

In May 2021 it was announced that the charge for single-use plastic bags in the United Kingdom would double from 5p to 10p from 21 May 2021. [299]

Wales

Wales introduced a legal minimum charge of 5 pence for almost all single use bags in October 2011. Paper and biodegradable bags are included in the charge as well as plastic bags, with only a few specific exemptions – such as for unpackaged food or medicine supplied on an NHS prescription. VAT raised from the charge is collected by the government. Retailers are asked to pass the rest of the proceeds on to charities. [236] July 2012 statistics released by the Welsh Government suggested that carrier bag use in Wales had reduced 96% since the introduction of the charge. [300]

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland introduced a 5 pence levy on almost all single use bags on 8 April 2013. The levy was extended to reusable carrier bags with a retail price of less than 20 pence from 19 January 2014 [237] as data from a number of retailers indicated that reusable bag sales had increased by 800% since the introduction of the levy on single use bags. The proceeds of the levy (£4.17m in 2013/14) are paid to the Department of the Environment and used to fund local environmental projects and enforce the levy. Official statistics for the Northern Ireland levy show that the number of single use bags dispensed fell from around 300 million in 2012/13 to 84.5 million in 2013/14 – a reduction of 72%. [301]

Scotland

A five pence minimum charge for single-use carrier bags came into force in Scotland on 20 October 2014. This was enacted as a statutory instrument under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, rather than a UK wide act. [302] The proceeds of the charge can be used by the retailers as they see fit, [238] although retailers are encouraged to pledge to donate proceeds to "good causes". [303] The charge is not exclusive to plastic bags, and includes biodegradable bags, such as paper. [238] Bags for unpackaged food, loose seeds, soil-contaminated goods, axes, knives or blades; drugs or medical appliances; small packaged uncooked fish, meat or poultry; aquatic animals; purchases made in aerodrome security restricted areas; or goods bought on board a ship, train, aircraft, coach or bus are exempt from the charge. [304]

England

England was the last country in the United Kingdom to adopt the 5 pence charge, [239] with the levy taking effect on 5 October 2015. [305] Prior to the introduction of plastic bag regulations, various retailers participated in voluntary actions to reduce plastic bag consumption. [306]

Unlike the rest of the UK, the English charge does not apply to paper bags or bags made from other natural materials. As with the other nations, VAT raised on sales will be collected by the Government. Retailers can choose how the money raised from bag sales is used. The Government publishes information yearly on the scheme, encouraging retailers to donate the proceeds to charities. [307] [308]

In the first 6 months, 640 million plastic bags were used in seven major supermarkets in England, raising £29.2 million for good causes. [309] England reported to have distributed 0.6 billion single-use bags during the first half year of the charge, [310] 7 billion fewer than were distributed in 2014. [311] A longitudinal evaluation of the English Plastic Bag Charge found that the charge had a positive effect upon all demographic groups, with a reduction in single-use plastic bags found among all income groups, all age groups, and both men and women. [312] In addition, the study found that public support for the plastic bag charge increased just one month after it was introduced, and people who increased their support for the bag charge were also more likely to increase their support for other policies aimed at reducing plastic waste, suggesting a 'spillover' effect for policy support. [312]

To promote the growth of new businesses in England, retailers with fewer than 250 employees are exempt from the charge. [313] Opponents to the exemption of small retailers argued that this exemption would diminish the environmental impact of the charge. [314] In response to this criticism, in the UK government has announced plans to extend the charge to all retailers and double the charge to 10p, which is expected to come into effect in April 2021. [315]

North America

The Bahamas

The Bahamian government banned single-use plastics (including light-weight plastic bags) in 2020, following a campaign by the Bahamas Plastic Movement (BPM), an environmental non-profit organization, which used citizen science-based research, public education and youth campaigns to lobby the government. [316]

Canada

In March 2007, the small town of Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, became the first community in North America to ban bags. [317]

The Toronto City Council voted on 6 June 2012, to ban plastic bags effective 1 January 2013, and to scrap the city's five-cent bag fee starting 1 July 2012. [318] Industry groups have convinced city officials to include a grace period between 1 January 2013, and 30 June 2013, when no fines, only warnings, can be issued. [319] The bag ban and five cent fee (six cents with HST) have both been overturned as of 28 November 2012 and it's up to individual retailers if they want to charge for plastic bags. [320] Most stores, with the exception of a few national retailers do not charge.

The Canadian government has plans to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021, the list of items to be banned includes plastic straws, cotton swabs, stirrers, plates, cutlery as well as balloon sticks. [321]

Local laws governing plastic bag use in Canada
Province/TerritoryMunicipalityPassage dateEffective dateEffect
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo 10 April 201010 September 2010Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. [322]
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia Victoria 17 December 20171 July 2018Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [323]
Flag of Manitoba.svg Manitoba
Leaf Rapids 22 March 20072 April 2007Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [324]
Thompson 27 September 201031 December 2010Single-use polyethylene bag ban. Reusable bags must be 2.25 mils thick. [325]
Flag of New Brunswick.svg New Brunswick
Dieppe 10 June 20191 October 2020Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [326] [327]
Moncton 1 October 2020Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [326] [327]
Riverview 10 June 20191 October 2020Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [326] [327]
Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg Newfoundland and Labrador Province-wide9 April 20191 October 2020Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [328] [329]
Flag of the Northwest Territories.svg Northwest Territories Territory-wide1 February 2011Single-use plastic shopping bag charge of 25c. [330]
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg Nova Scotia Province-wide30 October 201930 October 2020Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [331]
Flag of Nunavut.svg Nunavut Baker Lake 3 June 20213 June 2021Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [332]
Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg Prince Edward Island Province-wideJuly 2019Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [333]
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec
Brossard 16 February 20161 September 2016Single-use plastic bag ban (including compostable) [334] [335]
Deux-Montagnes 2009Plastic bag ban [336]
Huntingdon 2008Plastic bag ban including bags used for newspapers and flyers [336]
Montreal 23 August 20161 January 2018Ban of plastic bags including biodegradable. Reusable bags must be at least 50 microns thickness. [337]
Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Saskatchewan Regina 31 May 20201 February 2022Single-use plastic shopping bag ban effective following COVID-19 pandemic. [338]
Flag of Yukon.svg Yukon
Province-wide1 January 2022Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [339]
Carmacks 1 August 2019Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. [340]

Guatemala

A few municipalities in Guatemala have banned plastic bags, including San Pedro La Laguna, Acatenango, Villa Canales, San Miguel Petapa and Totonicapán. [341] [342] [343] [344] [345]

Jamaica

On 17 September 2018, the Jamaican Cabinet announced a total ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution and use of single-use plastic bags, effective 1 January 2019. [126]

Mexico

Plastic bags are banned in the following states: Baja California, Mexico City, Colima, Durango, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Sonora, Tabasco, Veracruz, Yucatán and Zacatecas. [145]

Panama

Panama's Assembly has passed legislation banning plastic bags. [346] The law was passed in 2018 and came into force on 20 July 2019, while wholesalers had until January 2020 to phase out their existing stock. [180]

United States

Phase out of lightweight plastic bags in the United States (laws in GU, ME, NY, VT passed but not in effect yet not shown on map)
Plastic bags banned
A charge on some plastic bags
Partial charge or ban (county or municipality level) Plastic bag legislation in the United States.svg
Phase out of lightweight plastic bags in the United States (laws in GU, ME, NY, VT passed but not in effect yet not shown on map)
  Plastic bags banned
  A charge on some plastic bags
  Partial charge or ban (county or municipality level)

There is no national plastic bag fee or ban currently in effect in the United States. However, the states of California, [347] Connecticut (July 2021), Delaware (2021), Hawaii (de facto), Maine (January 2021), [348] New Jersey (May 2022), [349] New York, [350] Oregon, Vermont (July 2020) [351] and Washington (2021) [352] and the territories of American Samoa, Guam (2021), Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico [353] have banned disposable bags. By September 2018, about 350 counties and municipalities had enacted ordinances either imposing a fee on plastic bags or banning them outright, [354] including all counties in Hawaii. [355] Other attempts at banning plastic shopping bags statewide (for example in Massachusetts, though as of August 2019, 122 cities and towns in the state have done so) [356] [357] ) have not succeeded mainly due to plastic industry lobbying. [358] A few jurisdictions have chosen to implement a fee-only approach to bag reduction such as Connecticut, Washington, D.C. and adjacent Montgomery County, Maryland. [359] Some US states, such as Florida and Arizona, have passed laws preventing local municipalities from passing their own bans. [360]

Oceania

Australia

Plastic bag bans in Australian states and territories
Ban in effect (South Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia)
No ban (New South Wales) Map of plastic bag bans in Australia.svg
Plastic bag bans in Australian states and territories
  Ban in effect (South Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia)
  No ban (New South Wales)

Although there is no nationwide ban on lightweight bags, they are banned in all states and territories except New South Wales (where a ban comes into force on 1 June 2022). [39] Coles Bay, Tasmania was the first location in Australia to ban lightweight plastic bags. [361] The introduction of the "Zero Waste" program in South Australia led to its lightweight bag ban in October 2008. It is estimated that 400 million bags are saved each year. [362] Western Australia and Queensland banned them in July 2018 and Victoria introduced a ban in November 2019. [33] [34] [35]

In Australia, 6 billion HDPE bags were used in 2002. [3] Usage reduced to 5.6 billion in 2004, [4] and 3.9 billion in 2007. [3]

After the two biggest supermarket chains in Australia banned single-use plastic grocery bags, the consumption of plastic bags in Australia dropped by 80% in three months. [363]

New Zealand

In 2018, the Labour government pledged to phase out single-use plastic bags within a year's time. New Zealand is one of the highest producers of urban waste in the developed world, per capita, according to OECD data. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage made the announcement on 10 August 2018. [364] On 18 December 2018, the Labour Government announced that all plastic shopping bags, including biodegradable, compostable, and oxy-gradable bags, that have handles with a thickness of less than 70 microns, will be banned from 1 July 2019. [166] Retailers who do not comply could face fines of up to NZD$100,000 (£51,000) [365]

South America

Argentina

In 2012, the Buenos Aires city government allowed supermarkets to charge for plastic bags in order to discourage their use, which is said to have reduced their use by 50%. [366] In 2016 the city announced a full ban on the distribution of plastic bags in supermarkets and hypermarkets, commencing 1 January 2017. [367] [368]

In 2009 the Governor of Buenos Aires Province, Daniel Scioli, approved Law 13868, [369] which mandated that by the end of that year, all non-biodegradable plastic bags should be phased out in favour of degradable materials. [370] [371]

Other provinces like Neuquén, Chubut, Río Negro and cities like Rosario, Villa Gesell or Bariloche had already banned the distribution of plastic bags in supermarkets as well. [31]

Chile

In May 2018, the House of Representatives voted for a gradual phaseout of plastic bags from retailers nationwide. [372] [373] [374] [375] In August 2018, the legislation was approved by Congress and the President, [376] making Chile the first Latin American country to ban plastic bags. Beginning on 3 August 2018, each purchase could be accompanied by no more than two plastic bags. Under the legislation, six months later, supermarkets and large retail businesses were not permitted to provide plastic bags at all, and on 3 August 2020 the total ban also began to apply to small businesses. Environment minister Carolina Schmidt said it is believed that the law eliminated the use of billions of plastic bags. [377]

Before the nationwide ban, similar rules existed regionally. As of 2017, some 80 municipalities already restricted plastic bag distribution, while some coastal and lakeside areas had banned plastic bags altogether. [378]

Colombia

As of 2015, Colombia planned to reduce the use of plastic bags by 80% by the year 2020 and to eliminate their use by the year 2025. [379] On 29 April 2016, the Ministry of Environment passed a resolution banning plastic bags under 30 cm by 30 cm. [380]

From 1 July 2017, the Colombian Government applies a tax of 20 pesos per plastic bag, with a planned annual increase of 10 pesos per bag until 2020. [78]

A challenge has been the single-use plastic that accompanies grocery and restaurant delivery; these services were in high demand during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. [381]

Uruguay

In 2018, the Uruguayan Parliament approved the law No19655 [248] that banned the production, importation and commercialization of all non-biodegradable single-use plastic bags throughout the country. Since 1 July 2019 only biodegradable bags are allowed for commercial use, with a tax of 4 pesos per bag. According to government agencies, just days after the law was approved, the use of plastic bags dropped by 80%, marking a huge success for the regulation. [382]

See also

Notes and references

Footnotes

    Related Research Articles

    American Chemistry Council

    The American Chemistry Council (ACC), formerly known as the Manufacturing Chemists' Association and then as the Chemical Manufacturers' Association, is an industry trade association for American chemical companies, based in Washington, D.C.

    Drinking straw Thin tube used to suck liquids from a container into the mouth of the drinker

    A drinking straw is a utensil that is intended to carry the contents of a beverage to one's mouth. Straws are commonly made from plastics but environmental concerns and new regulation has led to rise in reusable and biodegradable straws. These straws are often made of silicone, cardboard, or metal. A straw is used by placing one end in one's mouth and the other in a beverage. By employing suction, the air pressure in one's mouth drops causing atmospheric pressure to force the liquid through the straw and into the mouth. Drinking straws can be straight or have an angle-adjustable bellows segment. Drinking straws have historically been intended as a single-use product and several countries, regions, and municipalities have banned single-use plastic straws to reduce plastic pollution. Additionally, some companies have even voluntarily banned or reduced the number of plastic straws distributed from their premises.

    Plastic shopping bag Type of shopping bag

    Plastic shopping bags, carrier bags, or plastic grocery bags are a type of plastic bag used as shopping bags and made from various kinds of plastic. In use by consumers worldwide since the 1960s, these bags are sometimes called single-use bags, referring to carrying items from a store to a home. However, it is rare for bags to be worn out after single use and in the past some retailers incentivised customers to reuse 'single use' bags by offering loyalty points to those doing so. Even after they are no longer used for shopping reuse for storage or trash is common, and modern plastic shopping bags are increasingly recyclable or compostable. In recent decades, numerous countries have introduced legislation restricting the sale of plastic bags, in a bid to reduce littering and plastic pollution.

    Plastic bag Type of container made of thin, flexible, plastic film, nonwoven fabric, or plastic textile

    A plastic bag, poly bag, or pouch is a type of container made of thin, flexible, plastic film, nonwoven fabric, or plastic textile. Plastic bags are used for containing and transporting goods such as foods, produce, powders, ice, magazines, chemicals, and waste. It is a common form of packaging.

    Shopping bag

    Shopping bags are medium-sized bags, typically around 10–20 litres in volume, that are used by shoppers to carry home their purchases. Some are intended as single-use disposable products, though people may reuse them for storage or as bin liners, etc.; others are designed as reusable shopping bags.

    Marine debris Human-created solid waste in the sea or ocean

    Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created waste that has deliberately or accidentally been released in a sea or ocean. Floating oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and on coastlines, frequently washing aground, when it is known as beach litter or tidewrack. Deliberate disposal of wastes at sea is called ocean dumping. Naturally occurring debris, such as driftwood and drift seeds, are also present.

    Environmental issues in Thailand Thailand: environmental issues overview

    Thailand's dramatic economic growth has caused numerous environmental issues. The country faces problems with air, declining wildlife populations, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, and waste issues. According to a 2004 indicator, the cost of air and water pollution for the country scales up to approximately 1.6–2.6% of GDP per year. As such, Thailand's economic growth has come at great cost in damage to its people and environment.

    Woolworths Holdings Limited South African retail company

    Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African multinational retail company that owns the South African retail chain Woolworths, and Australian retailers David Jones and Country Road Group. Woolworths, however, has no association to Australia's Woolworths supermarket chain.

    Reusable shopping bag Shopping bag designed to be kept and reused by consumers

    A reusable shopping bag, sometimes called a bag-for-life in the UK, is a type of shopping bag which can be reused many times, in contrast to single-use paper or plastic shopping bags. It is often a tote bag made from fabric such as canvas, natural fibres such as jute, woven synthetic fibers, or a thick plastic that is more durable than disposable plastic bags, allowing multiple use. Other shoppers may use a string bag or a wheeled trolley bag. They are often sold in supermarkets and apparel shops.

    Plastic pollution Accumulation of plastic in natural ecosystems

    Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their habitat. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized by size into micro-, meso-, or macro debris. Plastics are inexpensive and durable making them very adaptable for different uses; as a result manufacturers choose to use plastic over other materials. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors allow large volumes of plastic to enter the environment as mismanaged waste and for it to persist in the ecosystem.

    There are various issues of waste management in Thailand, including excessive plastic use, industrial waste, among others.

    2016 California Proposition 67

    Proposition 67 was a California ballot proposition on the November 8, 2016 ballot. A "Yes" vote was to approve, and a "No" vote to reject, a statute that prohibits grocery and other stores from providing customers single–use plastic or paper carryout bags but permits the sale of recycled paper bags and reusable bags for a fee.

    The Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) is an advocacy group and social movement organization which seeks to reduce plastic pollution. PPC operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the umbrella organization Earth Island Institute.

    Plastic container

    Plastic containers are containers made exclusively or partially of plastic. Plastic containers are ubiquitous either as single-use or reuseable/durable plastic cups, plastic bottles, plastic bags, foam food containers, Tupperware, plastic tubes, clamshells, cosmetic containers, up to intermediate bulk containers and various types of containers made of corrugated plastic. The entire packaging industry heavily depends on plastic containers or containers with some plastic content, besides paperboard and other materials. Food storage nowadays relies mainly on plastic food storage containers.

    Phase-out of lightweight plastic bags in Australia

    The phase-out of lightweight plastic bags in Australia is being implemented by the states and territories rather than nationally, with plastic bag bans implemented in all jurisdictions with NSW being the last from 1 June 2022. The intent of the bans is to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the environment, both in and around Australia and globally.

    Hong Kong plastic shopping bag environmental levy scheme

    The Hong Kong plastic shopping bag environmental levy scheme is an environmental levy scheme designed to reduce the manufacture and distribution of plastic shopping bags (PSBs) in Hong Kong. PSBs are made of materials that are not easily degradable. The extensive disposal of PSBs is putting stringent pressure on the very limited landfill capacity, thereby causing severe waste problems in Hong Kong.

    Bahamas Plastic Movement

    The Bahamas Plastic Movement is a Nonprofit organization based out of the South Eleuthera, Bahamas that focuses on reducing plastic pollution. The organization was founded in 2014 by Kristal Ambrose. The organization specializes in using youth to end plastic pollution. They are an active member of the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

    Packaging waste Post-use container and packing refuse

    Packaging waste, the part of the waste that consists of packaging and packaging material, is a major part of the total global waste, and the major part of the packaging waste consists of single-use plastic food packaging, a hallmark of throwaway culture. Notable examples for which the need for regulation was recognized early, are "containers of liquids for human consumption", i.e. plastic bottles and the like. In Europe, the Germans top the list of packaging waste producers with more than 220 kilos of packaging per capita.

    Phase-out of lightweight plastic bags in the United States

    There is no national plastic bag fee or ban currently in effect in the United States. However, the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have banned disposable bags. Additionally, New Jersey has passed a law banning disposable bags that is set to go into effect in 2022. On July 6, 2021 Colorado passed a plastic bag ban set to go into effect in 2024. Over 200 counties and municipalities have enacted ordinances either imposing a fee on plastic bags or banning them outright, including all counties in Hawaii.

    Tiza Mafira is an environmental activist from Jakarta, Indonesia. She initiated the paid plastic bag policy enforced in supermarkets throughout Indonesia, and the Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Movement with various organizations to raise awareness of the harms of single-use plastic bags. Mafira received the Ocean Heroes Award from the UN Environment.

    References

    1. Schnurr, Riley E.J.; Alboiu, Vanessa; Chaudhary, Meenakshi; Corbett, Roan A.; Quanz, Meaghan E.; Sankar, Karthikeshwar; Srain, Harveer S.; Thavarajah, Venukasan; Xanthos, Dirk; Walker, Tony R. (2018). "Reducing marine pollution from single-use plastics (SUPs): A review". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 137: 157–171. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.001. PMID   30503422. S2CID   54522420.
    2. 1 2 Xanthos, Dirk; Walker, Tony R. (2017). "International policies to reduce plastic marine pollution from single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads): A review". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 118 (1–2): 17–26. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.048. PMID   28238328.
    3. 1 2 3 4 "Plastic bags". Australian Government. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
    4. 1 2 "Plastic Bag Fact Sheet" (PDF). Sustainability Victoria. 9 November 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
    5. 1 2 3 4 Kogoy, D (8 November 2010). "Plastic bag reduction around the world" (PDF). Marrickville Council.
    6. Onyanga-Omara, Jane (14 September 2013). "Plastic bag backlash gains momentum". BBC News via bbc.co.uk.
    7. 1 2 3 4 5 Nielsen, Tobias Dan; Holmberg, Karl; Stripple, Johannes (March 2019). "Need a bag? A review of public policies on plastic carrier bags – Where, how and to what effect?". Waste Management. 87: 428–440. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2019.02.025. PMID   31109543. S2CID   104472741.
    8. "Our planet is drowning in plastic pollution. This World Environment Day, it's time for a change". www.unenvironment.org. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
    9. Karl, David M.; Wilson, Samuel T.; Ferrón, Sara; Royer, Sarah-Jeanne (1 August 2018). "Production of methane and ethylene from plastic in the environment". PLOS ONE. 13 (8): e0200574. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1300574R. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200574 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6070199 . PMID   30067755. CC-BY icon.svg Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
    10. Marine litter – trash that kills (PDF). Retrieved 15 November 2016.
    11. 1 2 "Plastic Waste and Wildlife". Plastic Waste Solutions. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
    12. "Plastic in our oceans is killing marine mammals". www.wwf.org.au. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
    13. "Getting+Friendly+Environment"+"The+Dell+Challenge"&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 "Getting Friendly Environment". The Dell Challenge. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
    14. Watts, Jonathan (27 February 2008). "China's biggest plastic bag maker closes after ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
    15. Kiener, Robert (1 July 2010). "Plastic Pollution". CQ Global Researcher: 157–184.
    16. "The lifecycle of plastics". www.wwf.org.au. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
    17. "Facts". Garbage Patch – The Great Pacific Garbage Patch and other pollution issues. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
    18. Garces, Diego. "A staggering amount of waste – much of which has only existed for the past 60 years or so – enters the oceans each year". World Wildlife Fund. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
    19. 1 2 3 4 5 Skumatz, Lisa; D'Souza, Dana (November 2016). "Bag ban basics". Plastics Recycling Update. 35 (11): 16–19.
    20. 1 2 3 "Momentum for Plastic Bag Bans Spreading; Recycling Programs Earn Mixed Reviews". Solid Waste Report. 45 (8): 5–6. 25 April 2014.
    21. https://travel.usnews.com/features/why-ecotourism-is-booming
    22. "Say "No to Plastic" in 9 Languages".
    23. Homonoff, Tatiana A. (1 November 2018). "Can Small Incentives Have Large Effects? The Impact of Taxes versus Bonuses on Disposable Bag Use". American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 10 (4): 177–210. doi: 10.1257/pol.20150261 .
    24. 1 2 Taylor, Rebecca L.C. (January 2019). "Bag leakage: The effect of disposable carryout bag regulations on unregulated bags". Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. 93: 254–271. doi:10.1016/j.jeem.2019.01.001. S2CID   157950286.
    25. Rosalsky, Greg (9 April 2019). "Are Plastic Bag Bans Garbage?". NPR.org . Retrieved 9 April 2019.
    26. 1 2 Taylor, Rebecca (4 January 2019). "Bag leakage: The effect of disposable carryout bag regulations on unregulated bags". Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. 93: 254–271. doi: 10.1016/j.jeem.2019.01.001 .
    27. 1 2 3 4 5 "Legal Limits on Single-Use Plastics and Microplastics" (PDF). United Nations. 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
    28. "Albania bans lightweight plastic bags". Emerging Europe. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
    29. "Reducció del consum de les bosses de plàstic". mediambient.ad. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    30. "Antigua and Barbuda bans plastic bags". 12 July 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    31. 1 2 "Adiós a las bolsas del súper". Clarin. January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
    32. "Armenia to introduce environmental tax on plastic bags, looks to ban from 2022". Panorama.am. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
    33. 1 2 "New laws that will affect Australia". January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
    34. 1 2 "Plastic bag ban gets green light in Queensland". ABC News. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
    35. 1 2 "Victoria set to ban plastic bags next year" . Retrieved 18 July 2018.
    36. "Council Adopts a Plastic Bag Policy for Norfolk Island". Norfolk Online. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    37. "Victoria moves to ban plastic bags". SBS. 19 June 2019.
    38. Risso, Angelo (8 March 2020). "NSW set to ban single-use plastic bags". Seven News . Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
    39. 1 2 "Single-use plastics banned under new law". NSW Government. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
    40. "Austria to ban most plastic bags starting in 2020". The Seattle Times. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    41. "Azerbaijan bans more plastic | Eurasianet". eurasianet.org.
    42. "Customer Complaints As Single Use Plastic Ban Comes Into Effect". The Tribune. 3 January 2020.
    43. "Bahrain to ban plastic bags in July". Khaleej Times. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
    44. 1 2 Nicole Bogart (7 June 2012). "Top 5 places with plastic bag bans". Global News. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
    45. "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer.
    46. "Belarus joins garbage combating trend". TVR. 28 July 2019.
    47. "Plastic bags law in Belgium". FF Packaging. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    48. "Verbod plastic zakjes definitief van kracht". Bakkers Vlaanderen (in Dutch). 25 March 2019.
    49. "Belize pledges to ban plastic forks, bags and other single-use items by 2019" . Retrieved 22 March 2018.
    50. 1 2 3 Clayton, C. Andrea; Walker, Tony R.; Bezerra, Joana Carlos; Adam, Issahaku (November 2020). "Policy responses to reduce single-use plastic marine pollution in the Caribbean". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 162: 111833. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111833 . PMID   33213855.
    51. "Stop banning plastic bags, please". Bloomberg. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
    52. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Adam, Issahaku; Walker, Tony R.; Bezerra, Joana Carlos; Clayton, Andrea (1 June 2020). "Policies to reduce single-use plastic marine pollution in West Africa". Marine Policy. 116: 103928. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103928. S2CID   216397079.
    53. "Plastic ban still ineffective". BBS. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    54. "La Paz, Bolivia BANS Plastic Bags!" . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    55. "Namibia and Botswana Act Against Plastic Bag Pollution". 28 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
    56. "City of São Paulo, Brazil Launches Ban on Traditional Plastic Bags – The Global Grid". 6 May 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
    57. Soares, Eduardo (5 July 2018). "Brazil: State of Rio de Janeiro Bans Plastic Bags". Global Legal Monitor. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
    58. "Brunei aims to phase out plastic bags in supermarkets by 2019". The Scoop. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    59. "Bulgaria's Environment Ministry Reports Substantial Reduction in Plastic Bag Use – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency" . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    60. "Burkina Faso endorses law on sustainable development and bans non-biodegradable plastic bags - UN Environment". unpei.org. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
    61. "Burundi brings forward plastic bag ban by six months". The East African. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
    62. 1 2 "Cambodia to charge customers for plastic bags". Channel News Asia. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
    63. "Cameroon: bagging it after the plastic ban". African Arguments. 30 November 2016.
    64. "Canada's ban on single-use plastic items delayed until 2022". CTV News. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022 via ctvnews.ca.
    65. "Cabo Verde: ban on plastic bags - Partenariat Régional pour la conservation". prcmarine.org. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    66. "Centrafrique : les sacs plastiques en circulation malgré l'entrée en vigueur de la loi interdisant l'usage". 18 January 2022.
    67. "Chad - Prohibited & Restricted Imports - export.gov". export.gov. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    68. Concepción, Diario. "Comienza la aplicación de la nueva Ley de Bolsas Plásticas". Diario Concepción. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
    69. 1 2 Shi Jierui (10 July 2009). "China's bag ban, one year later". China Dialogue. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    70. 1 2 "Plastic bag ban abroad". China Network Television. 6 January 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    71. "China: Single-Use Plastic Straw and Bag Ban Takes Effect". Library of Congress. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
    72. "Shops providing free plastic bags to customers will be fined in Macau". Macau Hub. 19 August 2019.
    73. "China to cut single-use plastic reliance by 2025". Circular Online. 20 January 2020.
    74. 1 2 "Retail Bags Report – List of Retail Bag Policies – Asia". Department of Environmental Protection Florida. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    75. 1 2 "Taiwan to ban disposable plastic items by 2030". The Straits Times. AFP. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    76. 1 2 Everington, Keoni. "Taiwan EPA sets timeline for ban on plastic straws". Taiwan News. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    77. 1 2 McCarthy, Joe. "Taiwan Announces Ban on All Plastic Bags, Straws, and Utensils". Global Citizen. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    78. 1 2 "Abecé de lo que tiene que saber sobre el impuesto a bolsas plásticas". ElTiempo.com. 30 June 2017.
    79. "REPORT ON THE STATUS OF STYROFOAM AND PLASTIC BAG BANS IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION" (PDF). United Nations. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
    80. 1 2 3 4 Bezerra, Joana Carlos; Walker, Tony Robert; Clayton, C Andrea; Adam, Issahaku. "Single-use plastic bag policies in the Southern African development community". Environmental Challenges. 3.
    81. "By 2021 Costa Rica Will be the First Country to Eliminate Single-Use Plastics". The Costa Rica News. 27 July 2017.
    82. "Costa Rica's Plastic Laws | ELAW".
    83. Oldenburg, Silke (6 December 2018). "Living without plastic bags — the Democratic Republic of Congo is paving the way". Medium. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    84. Editorial, Reuters (2 June 2011). "Congo bans plastic bags to fight pollution". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
    85. "Plastic Bag Ban in Croatia from January 1, 2022: How Will It Look?". Total Croatia News. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
    86. "Shops ignoring plastic bag ban – Cyprus Mail". 4 January 2018.
    87. "Czech Republic Bids Farewell to Free Plastic Bags in 2018". 18 December 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
    88. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "ENOUGH EXCUSES: Time for Europe to act against plastic bag pollution" (PDF). Surfrider Foundation Europe.
    89. 1 2 http://www.ina.gl/demokratihome/publikationer.aspx?docgallery=10554 [ dead link ]
    90. Gibbens, Sarah (8 August 2018). "This Island Nation Is Banning Plastic". National Geographic. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    91. https://devpolicy.org/burning-ambition-timor-lestes-waste-management-problem-20210524-2/
    92. "Chile becomes first South American country to ban commercial use of plastic bags- Technology News, Firstpost". Tech2. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
    93. Alarcón, Isabel (8 May 2020). "Impuesto a las bolsas plásticas se aplica desde este sábado 9 de mayo del 2020 en Ecuador" [Plastic Bag Tax Starts this Saturday, May 9, 2020 in Ecuador]. El Comercio (Ecuador) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
    94. "Red Sea Governorate bans plastics". 2 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
    95. "Retail Bags Report – List of Retail Bag Policies". Department of Environmental Protection Florida. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008.
    96. "Ethiopia puts a squeeze on plastic bags". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    97. "Fiji's plastic bag ban to come into effect on New Year's Day". Radio NZ. 31 December 2019.
    98. 1 2 "Ditching Plastic Bags: A Lesson from Africa – Zero Waste Europe". 3 July 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    99. Robert, Aline (19 November 2015). "France postpones plastic bag ban for six months". EurActiv.fr. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
    100. "St-Pierre-et-Miquelon: A taste of French freedom for N.L.ers". The Telegram. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    101. "Protection de l'environnement : création de l'écotaxe et interdiction des sacs plastiques / 2017 / Articles archivés / Autres dossiers archivés / Publications / Accueil - Les services de l'État à Wallis et Futuna". wallis-et-futuna.pref.gouv.fr. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    102. "Le gouvernement annonce une interdiction des sacs plastiques en 2019". TAHITI INFOS, les informations de Tahiti. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    103. "La Nouvelle-Calédonie interdit les plastiques jetables". Euractiv (in French). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
    104. "Gabon to ban plastic bags, introduces biodegradable bags". panapress.com.
    105. "Gambia: The Ban On Plastic Bag Use". allafrica.com.
    106. "Armenia Fails to Ban Plastic Bags. Taxing Them Could Generate $215 Million for the Government – Hetq – News, Articles, Investigations" . Retrieved 3 January 2018.
    107. 1 2 "Plastic bags will be banned from supermarkets from 2022".
    108. 1 2 "Free plastic shopping bags banned from start of new year – Kathimerini" . Retrieved 3 January 2018.
    109. "Grenada bans single use plastics". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    110. "Guatemala to ban plastic bags, straws, cups beginning 2021". AP. 20 September 2019.
    111. "Guinea-Bissau: retail hits back at plastic bag ban – Trendtype". 17 April 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    112. "The Impending Ban on Single-use Plastic Products (SUPP)". Environmental Protection Agency Guyana. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
    113. Lall, Rashmee Roshan (15 August 2013). "Haiti police raid warehouses in plastics ban crackdown". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    114. "Roatan Bans Plastic Bags and Straws!". Honduras Travel. 24 January 2019.
    115. "Plastic Shopping Bags Banned in Iceland". Iceland Monitor. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
    116. 1 2 "plastic pollution: cow eating a plastic bag, near the Ganges River, Allahabad, India, 2007". Britannica. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
    117. 1 2 Sujadi Siswo (21 February 2016). "Indonesia launches campaign to reduce use of plastic bags" . Retrieved 26 February 2016.
    118. "Indonesia: Plastic bag ban in Bali to go into effect June 2019". GardaWorld. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
    119. "Jakarta to ban single-use plastic bags by June". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
    120. Washington, Jessica. "Indonesia: Jakarta bans single-use plastic bags". www.aljazeera.com.
    121. 1 2 Summers, Chris (19 March 2012). "What should be done about plastic bags?". BBC News. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
    122. 1 2 3 4 Convery, Frank; McDonnell, Simon; Ferreira, Susana (26 July 2007). "The most popular tax in Europe? Lessons from the Irish plastic bags levy". Environmental and Resource Economics. 38 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1007/s10640-006-9059-2. S2CID   155059787.
    123. 1 2 Udasin, Sharon: "Knesset bills seeks to alleviate scourge of plastic shopping bags in Israel ", in The Jerusalem Post , 10 February 2014
    124. "Italy Carries Out Plastic Bag Ban". Environmental Leader. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    125. "Plastic bag protest in Ivory Coast". BBC News . 25 November 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
    126. 1 2 "Gov't ban on single use plastic bags, straws, Styrofoam starts January". Jamaica Observer. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
    127. "Current Status of Plastic Bag Reduction Efforts in Japan|JFS Japan for Sustainability". JFS Japan for Sustainability.
    128. "Can Japan end its love affair with plastic?". Japan Today. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
    129. "Japan retailers to charge for plastic bags from 2020". Phys. 1 November 2019.
    130. "Kazakhstan authorities decide to abolish plastic shopping bags - Tajikistan News ASIA-Plus" . Retrieved 23 March 2018.
    131. 1 2 Freytas-Tamura, Kimiko de (28 August 2017). "In Kenya, Selling or Importing Plastic Bags Will Cost You $19,000 — or Jail (Published 2017)". The New York Times.
    132. "Policy framework: Kiribati Integrated Environment Policy". Osaka Blue Ocean Vision. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    133. BENGARD, Anastasia (8 February 2018). "Kyrgyzstan intends to prohibit use of plastic bags" . Retrieved 23 March 2018.
    134. "Stores in Latvia will no longer provide plastic bags free of charge". 11 January 2018.
    135. "Lebanese mayor bans plastic bags: 'We need to start somewhere'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    136. Rajaona, Antso. "Madagascar: Prohibition of the use of plastic bags as from May 1 2015".
    137. "Launching of No Free Plastic Bags Day at Tesco Sg Dua". Penang Government. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
    138. Shaun Ho (3 January 2010). "Selangor implements 'No Plastic Day' every Saturday". The Star. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
    139. "Maldives banning plastic bags, straws and other single-use items from June 2021". raajje.mv. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
    140. "Could 2013 spell the end for plastic bags?". France 24. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    141. "Single-Use Plastics Will Be Banned In Malta By 2022". Lovin Malta. 14 October 2019.
    142. 1 2 "More Pacific islands step up battle against plastic". Radio New Zealand. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    143. "Mauritania bans plastic bag use". BBC News . 3 January 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    144. "Mauritius bans the use of plastic bags". Government of Mauritius. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
    145. 1 2 "Estos son los estados del país que prohíben el uso de plásticos". Excélsior. 4 January 2020.
    146. https://www.ktsm.com/news/juarez/state-of-chihuahua-to-ban-plastic-bags-next-month/
    147. https://theguadalajarareporter.net/index.php/news/news/regional/54588-jalisco-plastic-bag-ban-fines-put-on-ice-for-next-12-months
    148. "Pacific Islands Moving Towards Banning Single Use Plastic". SPREP. 29 June 2018.
    149. "Plastic Bag Ban coming April 2019 for Kosrae State". Kirma Kosrae. 4 December 2018.
    150. "Chuuk State Clean Environment Act of 2018" (PDF). Chuuk State Senate. April 2018.
    151. 1 2 Dulgher, Maria (13 February 2020). "Plastic bags use and selling will be penalised in Moldova". moldova.org. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
    152. Staff Writer (8 January 2017). "Plastic bag restrictions continue in Monaco" . Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    153. "Mongolia decides to ban single-use plastic bags". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    154. "Plastic Bag Ban to be Introduced in Montenegro". Total Montenegro News. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    155. "Morocco enforcing nationwide ban on plastic bags". Africanews. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
    156. "Mozambique: Restrictions On Plastic Bags Take Effect On 5 February". AllAfrica. 29 January 2016.
    157. Aye Sapay Phyu; Juliet Shwe Gaung (2 May 2011). "Plastic bags get the toss from Yangon". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
    158. "Namibia officially bans plastic bags in protected areas". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    159. "RONLAW - Nauru's Online Legal Database - Environmental Management and Climate Change (Ban on Single Use Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2021 in force". ronlaw.gov.nr.
    160. "Ban on production and use of plastic bags comes into effect". 17 July 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    161. 1 2 Milieu, Ministerie van Infrastructuur en (26 August 2015). "Verbod op gratis plastic tassen – Afval – Rijksoverheid.nl". rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 March 2016.
    162. "Why Aruba Just Banned Plastic Bags". Caribbean Journal. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    163. Insider, Susan Davis for The Bonaire (18 July 2019). "Single-Use Plastics Banned by Bonaire".
    164. "Plastic carrier bags prohibited in Saba per January 1". www.curacaochronicle.com.
    165. "Sint Maarten's Move To Prohibit Single-Use Plastics 'Focuses On Natural Processes, Emerging Green Technologies, Innovative Thinking'". 27 April 2021.
    166. 1 2 "Single-use plastic bags banned from July 1, Government confirms". Newshub. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    167. "Niue joins growing Pacific movement to ban plastics". Radio New Zealand. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    168. "Cook Islands moves to ban single-use plastic". Radio NZ. 11 June 2019.
    169. "Niger: Govt. bans production, import, trade, use of plastic bags". panapress.com. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
    170. 1 2 Opara, George (21 May 2019). "Reps pass bill banning plastic bags, prescribe fines against offenders". Daily Post. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
    171. Saveski, Zdravko (5 August 2019). "Оние незабележливи пластични ќеси". Nezavisen (in Macedonian).
    172. "Незабранетите забранети пластични кеси во Македонија", Иницијатива за забрана на пластични кеси, 23.12.2020.
    173. "Plastic bag charge carries to Norway". 3 October 2017.
    174. "Clarification issued on single-use plastic bag ban in Oman". Times of Oman. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
    175. "Pakistan will become 128th country to ban use of plastic bags on 14th". The News. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
    176. "KP govt bans plastic bags". The News. 17 March 2019.
    177. "In Pakistan's northern mountains, plastic bags face the bin". Quantara. 26 June 2019.
    178. "AJK bans production, use of plastic shopping bags". Nation. 30 May 2019.
    179. "Palau Moves To Ban Plastic Bags". Pacific Note. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    180. 1 2 Moreno, Elida (20 July 2019). "Panama becomes first Central American nation to ban plastic bags". Reuters. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
    181. "PNG prepares for ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags". ABC News. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
    182. "Ban on plastic bags begins in PNG". 28 January 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
    183. "Ley de plásticos: todo lo que debes saber sobre el cobro de bolsas en establecimientos". El Comercio (in Spanish). 7 May 2019.
    184. "Peru to phase out throw-away plastic bags in three years". Reuters. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    185. Valisno, Jeffrey O. (2 March 2012). "To plastic or not to plastic, that is the question..." Business World Online. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
    186. "Quezon City plastic bag fee to go to 'green' projects". Rappler.
    187. "Industry expects 50% downsizing if Manila bans plastic bags". GMA News Online.
    188. 1 2 "As ban on plastic bags spreads, Valenzuela stubbornly says 'no'". GMA News Online.
    189. Melican, Nathaniel R. (30 May 2014). "Why Malabon continues to delay plastic ban". INQUIRER.net.
    190. 1 2 "Koniec z darmowymi reklamówkami. Jakie są ceny foliówek w supermarketach?". Wprost. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
    191. 1 2 "Plastic bag use plummets a year after tax introduction" . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    192. Korotchenko, Maxim (2 September 2021). "Russia Moves to Phase Out Plastic Bags in New Draft Law". The Moscow Times.
    193. Clavel, Émilie (15 February 2014). "Think you can't live without plastic bags? Consider this: Rwanda did it". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    194. "St Vincent and the Grenadines bans single-use plastic bags". WICNEWS. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
    195. "Samoa to ban plastics". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    196. "La Repubblica di San Marino dice addio alla plastica monouso". San Marino Fixing (in Italian). 29 October 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
    197. "Deputados são-tomenses aprovam lei para reduzir sacos plásticos no País". Agencia (in Portuguese). 8 August 2019.
    198. Iwuoha, John-Paul (3 June 2016). "Plastic Shopping Bags Will Soon Be History Everywhere in Africa. Here's Why..." HuffPost . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    199. 1 2 "Serbia Throws Plastic Bags in Dustbin of History". Balkan Insight. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
    200. https://www.sllistbeograd.rs/pdf/2018/85-2018.pdf#view=Fit&page=1 [ bare URL PDF ]
    201. "In another environmental push, Seychelles bans single-use plastic straws". seychellesnewsagency.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    202. "STA: Govt bans free lightweight plastic bags as of 2019". english.sta.si. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
    203. "The Solomons has announced a ban on plastic bags!". 21 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
    204. 1 2 Somaliland bans use of plastic bags, IRIN News, 1 March 2005. Accessed on 30 October 2017.
    205. 1 2 Somaliland still blighted by plastic bags, despite ban, IRIN News, 24 March 2005. Accessed on 30 October 2017.
    206. 1 2 Somaliland plastic ban: Enforcement teams formed for implementation Archived 7 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Somaliland Informer, 9 September 2016. Accessed on 30 October 2017.
    207. 1 2 Somaliland: Ban on Plastic Bags Imposed Archived 19 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Somaliland Sun, 14 April 2015. Accessed on 30 October 2017.
    208. 1 2 The Official text of the Presidential decree (in Somali) Archived 6 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine . Accessed on 30 October 2017.
    209. 1 2 Dikgang, Johane; Leiman, Anthony; Visser, Martine (8 July 2010). "Analysis of the plastic-bag levy in South Africa" (PDF). Economic Research Southern Africa.
    210. 1 2 John Roach (4 April 2008). "Plastic-Bag Bans Gaining Momentum Around the World". National Geographic. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
    211. "South Korea bans disposable coffee cups, plastic bags" . Retrieved 10 August 2018.
    212. "Gov't bans plastic bags". 18 December 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
    213. 1 2 "Charging for carrier bags to be mandatory in Spain from 2018". thinkSPAIN. 16 February 2017.
    214. Badcock, James (17 January 2018). "Balearic Islands to ban plastic by 2020 in bid to clean its beaches". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
    215. "Sri Lanka bans plastic bags, other disposables after garbage crisis". The Straits Times. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
    216. "Sudan: Khartoum State Bans Light Plastic Bags". Sudan News Agency (Khartoum). 21 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018 via AllAfrica.
    217. "Sweden considers higher fees for plastic bags". 6 July 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    218. 1 2 3 4 (in French) Michel Guillaume, "L'économie suisse promet de verdir", Le temps , Monday 26 September 2016, page 4. Published on-line as "L'économie suisse promet de verdir malgré le rejet de l'initiative" on 25 September 2016 (page visited on 26 September 2016).
    219. 1 2 3 (in French) Michael West, "Environnement. « Petits prix pour grands effets »", Migros Magazine , number 39, 29 September 2016, page 38-39.
    220. 1 2 3 (in French) "Chez Coop et Migros, les sacs jetables vont désormais coûter 5 centimes", Radio télévision suisse, 22 September 2016 (page visited on 25 September 2016).
    221. "Geneva set to ban single-use plastics". The Local. 23 April 2019.
    222. "Tanzania to ban single-use plastics by July - environment minister". 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019 via af.reuters.com.
    223. 1 2 "Tanzania latest African nation to ban plastic bags". France 24. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    224. "Major Thai stores to stop giving out plastic bags by 2020: minister". Reuters. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
    225. "Thailand to ban single-use plastics in 2021". Coconuts Bangkok. 12 November 2019.
    226. "Togo bans plastic bags amid growing global trend". Independent.co.uk . 19 January 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
    227. 1 2 "Tunisia bans disposable plastic shopping bags". TreeHugger. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
    228. "Plastic bags to be banned on Istanbul's Princes' Islands". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    229. Hartmann, Jens. "TURKEY: Introduction of fees for retail plastic bags from January 2018 / Ban on thin plastic bags". plasteurope.com. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    230. "North Cyprus introduces plastic bag charge – T-VINE" . Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    231. "Tuvalu: Ban on Single-Use Plastics Commences". Library of Congress. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019.
    232. 1 2 "East African ban on plastic bags". BBC. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
    233. (in Ukrainian) "Goodbye, plastic": restrictions on plastic bags have come into force in Ukraine, Ekonomichna Pravda ("Economic Truth") (10 December 2021)
    234. "President signed a law banning the use of plastic bags in Ukraine". Official website of the President of Ukraine.
    235. "Abu Dhabi to ban single-use plastic bags next year". Packaging Gateway. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
    236. 1 2 "Retailers". Carrier bag charge Wales. Crown. July 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
    237. 1 2 "NI Direct Bag Levy". Carrier bag Levy Northern Ireland. NI Direct. 20 November 2015.
    238. 1 2 3 Natasha Culzac (20 October 2014). "Scotland's 5p carrier bag charge comes into effect". The Independent. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
    239. 1 2 Howell, Dominic (30 July 2016). "The 5p plastic bag charge: All you need to know". BBC News . Retrieved 15 November 2016.
    240. "Goodbye to single use plastic bags Ban to take effect from January 2019". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    241. "Anguilla Joins Region's Governments Banning Plastic". The Anguillan. 26 November 2018.
    242. "New legislation bans most single use plastic bags and makes washing down dog urine a legal obligation". GBC. 17 September 2019.
    243. "Tackling Plastic Pollution - British Indian Ocean Territory" . Retrieved 1 January 2019.
    244. "Manx government proposes ban on single-use plastics". BBC News. 24 July 2019.
    245. "Jersey to ban single-use plastic bags". Jersey Government. 17 June 2020.
    246. "Alderney agrees ban on single-use plastic bags".
    247. "St Helena shows UK the way with fizzy drinks tax". St Helena Online. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
    248. 1 2 "Ley N° 19655". www.impo.com.uy. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
    249. UzDaily.com. "Free distribution of plastic bags to be banned in Uzbekistan from 2019". UzDaily.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
    250. "Plastic bag ban in Vanuatu from February". 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
    251. "Vatican City State set to end sale of single-use plastics". The Tablet. 16 July 2019.
    252. "Kenya bans plastic bags". The Independent UK. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
    253. "Nairobi city to ban use of plastic bags". Africa Review Kenya. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
    254. "Government bans use of plastic bags" . Retrieved 29 August 2017.
    255. "Uhuru Kenyatta bans single-use plastic products in parks, beaches". Daily Nation. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
    256. "Zanzibar islands ban plastic bags". BBC. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
    257. Pflanz, Mike (4 April 2006). "Tanzania to ban all plastic bags". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 29 September 2012.
    258. "Plastic bag ban delayed – Dar Post" . Retrieved 1 June 2019.
    259. http://www.thearabweekly.com/, The Arab Weekly. "Tunisia bans plastic bags in supermarkets". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 10 April 2017.{{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
    260. Tenywa, Gerald (11 January 2009). "Paper bag makers shift base as kaveera ghost hits with vengeance". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
    261. "Makers of plastic bags get reprieve" . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    262. Iechika, Ryoko (家近亮子) (2000). "日本の対中環境協力と中国の環境行政システム" [Japanese environmental cooperation for China and the system of environmental administration of China]. 环境情报研究8号 (in Japanese). 8: 95 (note 1). Retrieved 24 November 2021. The term 'white pollution' refers to the contamination caused by dumping of plastic products such as PET bottles and burning of styrofoam products such as disposable lunch boxes. In China, a mandate was handed down from the State Council to eliminate 'white pollution.' It was held in October 1999 that the production and use of disposable plastic returnable containers would be prohibited in 2000. China is the world's fourth largest plastic product producing country. Source: People's Daily International Edition, Oct. 18, 1999.
    263. "Chinese cities to curb 'white pollution'". People's Daily (English edition). 16 November 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
    264. "爱山环保日活动挑战"白色污染" (Aishan Ecology Day activities set to battle 'white pollution')" (in Chinese). People's Daily. 16 March 2002. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
    265. Chen, Zhiyong (21 January 2006). "Finding solutions to 'white pollution'". People's Daily (English edition). Retrieved 24 November 2021. But despite their handiness, the plastic bags and foam plastic food containers have been associated with 'white pollution,' because they are non-degradable.
    266. Harrell, Stevan; Hinckley, Thomas M.; Li, Xingxing; Ho, Joanne; Warren, Kayanna; Nadal, Ross T. "Historical ecological change in the upper Baiwu Valley (白乌溪流域的历代生态变迁)" (PDF).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
    267. "Minimum Thickness of Plastic Carry Bags Increased from 40 to 50 Microns". Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
    268. "India's first organic state". The Hindu. 14 January 2016.
    269. "Sikkim Becomes the First Indian State to Ban Mineral Water Bottles in Govt Programmes". NDTV Food.
    270. "Total plastic ban in Karnataka | Bengaluru News - Times of India". The Times of India.
    271. "HC refuses to stay plastic ban; asks plastic industry to go to Green Tribunal". 30 March 2016.
    272. TNN (20 May 2013). "Plea to relax ban on plastic bags below 40 microns". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
    273. Press Trust of India (2 January 2010). "Mumbai to ban plastic bags; to amend law". Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
    274. "Plastic Waste Management in Maharashtra". Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. 23 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
    275. Thangavelu, Dharani (31 December 2018). "Tamil Nadu to usher in New Year on green note with ban on single-use plastic". mint.
    276. Heyden, Dylan. "Bali Institutes a Ban on Single-Use Plastics in 2019 With Aggressive Reduction Goals". The Inertia.
    277. Dharmastuti, Hestiana (7 January 2020). "Sebelum Jakarta, Bali hingga Semarang Lebih Dulu Larang Kantong Plastik". detiknews (in Indonesian).
    278. "Disposable plastic bag use falls very sharply – Globes English". Globes. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    279. "This is why Philippines is world's third-largest ocean plastic polluter". South China Morning Post. 18 October 2018.
    280. Melican, Nathaniel R. (24 June 2012). "First to ban plastics in NCR, Muntinlupa City takes campaign further". INQUIRER.net.
    281. "BusinessWorld | To plastic or not to plastic, that is the question..." archives.bworldonline.com.
    282. "Single-Use Plastics Regulation and Management Act of 2019".
    283. "Days of single-use plastic to end with approval of Pangilinan's Senate Bill 40".
    284. "Why plastic shopping bag bans and taxes don't work" (doc). Canadian Plastics Industry Association. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
    285. "Many support EPA ban on throw-away utensils". taipeitimes.com. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
    286. "EUROPA – Press release – Environment: Commission proposes to reduce the use of plastic bags". European Commission. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
    287. Cécile Barbière (29 April 2015). "EU to halve plastic bag use by 2019". Euractiv. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
    288. "Directive 2015/720". 29 April 2015. amending Directive 94/62/EC as regards reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags
    289. "Learn About Global Efforts to Reduce Waste from Disposable Products". Reuse it. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    290. "Europe votes to slash plastic bag use", ABC News, 17 April 2014
    291. "Plastic bags to cost 4 cents each in Greece after January 1 – CretePost.gr". chaniapost.eu. October 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
    292. Pokojska, Agnieszka (19 December 2017). "Opłata recyklingowa w 2018 roku. Fiskus zarobi ćwierć miliarda złotych na sprzedaży foliówek". Gazeta Prawna. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
    293. 1 2 Luís, Idalina Perestrelo; Spínola, Hélder (October 2010). "The influence of a voluntary fee in the consumption of plastic bags on supermarkets from Madeira Island (Portugal)". Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 53 (7): 883–889. doi:10.1080/09640568.2010.490054. S2CID   154911538.
    294. "Ecotaxa pe pungi şi sacoşe pentru cumpărături". 2 June 2011.
    295. "Serbia set to ban plastic bags" . Retrieved 10 August 2018.
    296. "NAPLATA PLASTIČNE AMBALAŽE: Traže dva dinara za kesu" (in Serbian). Večernje novosti. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
    297. "Carrier bag charges compulsory from July this year" . Retrieved 18 July 2018.
    298. Everett, Michael; Priestley, Sara (22 June 2017). "The 5p Plastic Bag Charge".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
    299. "Single-use plastic bags to cost 10p at all shops in England from 21 May". Sky News. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
    300. "List by country; 'bag charges, taxes and bans'. – Big Fat Bags". Big Fat Bags. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
    301. "NI Bag Levy Annual Statistics 2013/14" (PDF). Carrier bag Levy Northern Ireland Statistics. DOE NI. August 2014.
    302. Introductory Text to The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014
    303. "Home – Carrier Bag Charge Scotland" . Retrieved 21 October 2015.
    304. "The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Scotland) Regulations 2014". Schedule 1, Act No. 161 of 2014 . Retrieved 21 October 2015.
    305. "5p carrier bag fee 'will cost families £1.5 billion' over next 10 years". ITV News. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
    306. Ritch, Elaine; Brennan, Carol; MacLeod, Calum (2009). "Plastic bag politics: Modifying consumer behaviour for sustainable development". International Journal of Consumer Studies. 33 (2): 168–174. doi:10.1111/j.1470-6431.2009.00749.x.
    307. Howell, Dominic (30 July 2016). "The 5p plastic bag charge: All you need to know". BBC News. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
    308. "Carrier bags: why there's a charge". Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
    309. Morelle, Rebecca (30 July 2016). "BBC News:Plastic bag use plummets in England". BBC News. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs . Retrieved 30 July 2016.
    310. "Single-use plastic carrier bags charge: data in England for 2015 to 2016". Gov.uk . Retrieved 15 November 2016.
    311. "WRAP announces new carrier bag figures". WRAP UK. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
    312. 1 2 Thomas, Gregory Owen; Sautkina, Elena; Poortinga, Wouter; Wolstenholme, Emily; Whitmarsh, Lorraine (26 February 2019). "The English Plastic Bag Charge Changed Behavior and Increased Support for Other Charges to Reduce Plastic Waste". Frontiers in Psychology. 10: 266. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00266 . PMC   6399129 . PMID   30863332.
    313. Everett, Michael; Priestley, Sara (22 June 2017). "The 5p Plastic Bag Charge".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
    314. "Plastic bags: Government response – News from Parliament". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
    315. DEFRA, War on plastic waste stepped up with extension of plastic bag charge, published 31 August 2020,accessed 29 September 2021
    316. Ambrose, Kristal K.; Box, Carolynn; Boxall, James; Brooks, Annabelle; Eriksen, Marcus; Fabres, Joan; Fylakis, Georgios; Walker, Tony R. (May 2019). "Spatial trends and drivers of marine debris accumulation on shorelines in South Eleuthera, the Bahamas using citizen science". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 142: 145–154. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.03.036. PMID   31232287. S2CID   109287477.
    317. "Plastic bags officially banned in Manitoba town". Bell Media. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
    318. "Toronto bans plastic bags by the start of 2013". The Toronto Sun. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
    319. "Toronto plastic bag ban: Bylaw ready to go for a Jan. 1 soft launch". The Toronto Star. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
    320. "Bag ban overturned, shopping bylaw unchanged". CP24. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
    321. Hannah, Thibedeau (9 June 2019). "Government to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021". CBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
    322. "BYLAW NO. 12/007" (PDF). Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
    323. "Plastic bags no more: Victoria to implement ban July 1". CBC News. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
    324. "Leaf Rapids Green Initiatives". Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, Canada. Town of Leaf Rapids. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
    325. "Single Use Plastic Bag By-law". City of Thompson. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
    326. 1 2 3 "City of Moncton passes bylaw banning some plastic and placing fee on paper checkout bags – Dieppe and Riverview introduce bylaws identical to Moncton Bylaw". Retail Council. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
    327. 1 2 3 "Moncton-area municipalities delay single-use plastic bag bylaw restrictions". CBC News.
    328. "N.S. passes legislation banning single-use plastic bags". CBC. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
    329. "Plastic-free amid a pandemic? It might not be possible, but it's worth a try". CBC News.
    330. "FAQ - Single-use Retail Bag Program". Northwest Territories Government. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
    331. "N.S. passes legislation banning single-use plastic bags". CBC. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
    332. "Baker Lake bans single-use plastic bags". Nunavut News. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
    333. "Plastic bag ban a relief for Island Waste Management". CBC. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
    334. "Brossard bans plastic bags in stores for fall 2016". CBC. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
    335. "Sacs d'emplettes" (in French). Ville de Brossard. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
    336. 1 2 Bruemmer, René (7 November 2014). "Can Montreal's proposed ban on plastic bags work?". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
    337. Evans, Lacey (8 September 2016). "Montreal is largest Canadian city to ban plastic bags".
    338. "Plastic bags soon to be banned in Regina". CKRM.
    339. "Ban on single-use shopping bags coming to the Yukon". Yukon News. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
    340. "No more single-use plastic bags in Carmacks". Yukon News. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
    341. "To Help Conserve Lake Atitlán, Town Bans Plastic Bags". 4 May 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
    342. "Acatenango prohíbe el uso de bolsas plásticas, pajillas y duroport" (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2018.
    343. "Municipalidad de Villa Canales prohíbe el uso de bolsas plásticas y otros artículos no reusables". elPeriodico. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
    344. "San Miguel Petapa se une a la prohibición de bolsas plásticas". Prensa Libre. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
    345. KM169, Prensa Comunitaria (5 June 2018). "Totonicapán dice NO al uso del plástico". Prensa Comunitaria KM169. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
    346. "Plastic Bags Banned in Panama – THE PANAMA PERSPECTIVE". 16 August 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    347. Luna, Taryn (10 November 2016). "Californians say farewell to the plastic bag". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
    348. "Maine halts plastic bag ban as part of plan to mitigate coronavirus spread". Plastics News. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
    349. Rosengren, Cole (4 November 2020). "New Jersey governor signs sweeping bill limiting carryout bags, polystyrene foam and straws". Waste Dive. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
    350. Nace April, Trevor (23 April 2019). "New York Officially Bans Plastic Bags". Forbes. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
    351. "Vermont adopts the most comprehensive plastics ban in U.S." National Geographic. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
    352. KREM Staff. "WaBagBan". KREM. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
    353. Coto, Danica (30 October 2015). "Puerto Rico to ban use of plastic bags through executive order after legislators opposed bill". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
    354. Nace, Trevor. "Here's A List Of Every City In The US To Ban Plastic Bags, Will Your City Be Next?". Forbes.
    355. Llanos, Miguel (16 May 2012). "Hawaii first state to ban plastic bags at checkout". NBC News. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
    356. "Massachusetts plastic bag ban is now tied up in Beacon Hill - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
    357. "Plastic Bag Legislation". MassGreen.Org.
    358. "This time, pass California ban on plastic bags: Editorial". Los Angeles Daily News. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
    359. Verespej, Nike (16 November 2012). "Massachusetts town bans plastic bags". Waste & Recycling News. Retrieved 29 November 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
    360. Frazier, Ian. "The Bag Bill". The New Yorker. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
    361. "Tasmania carries eco-fight, bans plastic bags". Mail & Guardian. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
    362. "Plastic Bag Ban". Zero Waste South Australia. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
    363. Lorraine Chow, Lorraine (3 December 2018). "Australia Cuts 80% of Plastic Bag Use in 3 Short Months". Ecowatch. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
    364. "Government pledges mandatory phase-out of plastic bags". 9 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
    365. Lyons, Kate (10 August 2018). "Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand will ban plastic bags". The Guardian.
    366. "El gobierno porteño anunció que desde 2017 se prohibirán bolsas plásticas en los súper" . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    367. "Adiós a un clásico: desde 2017, no habrá más bolsas de plástico en los súper porteños". Clarin. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    368. "Polémica por la prohibición de bolsas en los comercios porteños". La Nacion. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    369. "Ley 13868 PBA" . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    370. "Prohibición del uso de bolsas plasticas en supermercados, hipermercados y minimercados de la Provincia de Buenos Aires" . Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    371. "SE REGLAMENTÓ LA LEY DE SUSTITUCIÓN DE BOLSAS PLÁSTICAS". Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
    372. Bonnefoy, Pascale (1 June 2018). "Chile Bans Plastic Bags at Retail Businesses". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    373. "Chile adopts new law to ban the use of plastic bags". ClimateActionProgramme.org. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    374. Chow, Lorraine (31 May 2018). "Chile to Become First Country in the Americas to Ban Plastic Bags". EcoWatch. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    375. "Chile set to become first American country to ban plastic bags – The Santiago Times". santiagotimes.cl. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    376. "Chile bans supermarket plastic bags". BBC News . 3 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
    377. El Tiempo, Casa Editorial (3 August 2020). "El primer país de Latinoamérica que se despide de las bolsas plásticas". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2020.
    378. "Chile to ban plastic bags in coastal regions" . Retrieved 27 November 2017.
    379. "Colombia apunta a la eliminación completa del uso de bolsas plásticas en 2025". 27 November 2015.
    380. Tiempo, Casa Editorial El (12 April 2016). "Las bolsas plásticas pequeñas tienen los días contados en Colombia – Sectores – El Tiempo".
    381. Tiempo, Casa Editorial El (1 August 2020). "Plástico de un solo uso: protege del virus pero amenaza al planeta". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2020.
    382. "Bajó 80% el uso de bolsas plásticas desde el pasado 1o de abril". LARED21 (in Spanish). 25 April 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.