China's Effective Ban on Plastic Bags
source: Yale Environment 360
07.02.08: China’s Ban on Plastic Bags
Shows Early Success in Cutting Use
A month after its inception, China’s ban on free plastic bags and
on the production and sale of ultra-thin plastic bags has already
effected dramatic change, according to the Worldwatch Institute’s China
Program. Plastic bag use has halved in Guangzhou supermarkets since the
June 1 crackdown, while some Beijing markets are using a mere tenth of
the bags they were before the ban. Though some reports indicated that
enforcement might be difficult, the government has already fined at least one shopkeeper
the maximum allowable sum of $1,200, demonstrating its seriousness on
this issue. The ban, which was motivated by concerns about energy
security as well as the environment, is expected to help reduce the 37
million barrels of oil China uses on plastic packaging annually.
Plastic bags are not easily decomposed. It takes years according to study. I support those companies that implement green bag. It is good to use paper bags that using plastics.
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