What does the law do, and when does it take effect. Some cities have opted for a tax on plastic bags, such as washington, d. Employment effects banning plastic bags reduces retail employment. Plastic bag bans designed to generate and protect bag. Many countries have banned plastic bags due to public concern over the serious negative impact on the environment and agriculture, especially, in agricultural countries, such as bangladesh, india, pakistan, south africa, etc. Bags used only to contain or wrap uncooked meat, fish, seafood, or poultry.
Below is a list of countries that currently have a ban, tax, or disincentive on the use of plastic bags 2,6. By being aware about these issues, you will be ready to present some strong arguments why plastic bags should be banned in your area and answer questions of people who will become your ally if you will persuade them about your good intentions. The national environment management authority nema has since made efforts to unbundle this ban in form of frequently asked questions faqs which can be downloaded from the nema website. Due to the problems associated with singleuse plastic bags and following signing of legislation related to plastic bags1, governor cuomo convened the new york state plastic bag task force in february 2017 to develop a report and proposed legislation to address the detrimental impact of plastic bags on the states environment. Subnational level plastic bag bans and styrofoam regulations. A singleuse hdpe plastic bag uses 50% more nonrenewable energy, emits 40 % more ghg. Pdf find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The following types of bags are exempt from both the plastic bag ban and the paper carryout bag fee.
The theft of store shopping carts and shopping baskets is higher in areas with plastic bag bans. You can be part of the i ban plastic movement in many ways. An evaluation of the effects of californias proposed plastic bag ban 5 proponents of bag bans also frequently claim that large numbers of plastic bags find their way into the oceans, resulting in a giant garbage patch that is causing the death of millions of birds and marine mammals. Scientific support for a plastic bag reduction law scientist action. The study suggests these thicker bags were purchased to replace the secondary use of free, singleuse plastic bags as trashcan liners or to pick up pet waste. This document describes 38 mrsa 1611, a statewide law regulating carryout bags that includes a ban on pointofsale singleuse plastic bags and a small fee on recycled paper bags and on reusable bags made of plastic.
Plastic bags when dumped into rivers, streams and sea contaminate the water, soil, marine life as well as the air we breathe. Effective september 15, 2019, retailers will no longer be able to provide plastic bags to shoppers in anchorage. Retail outlets, exporters, manufacturers, and various other categories of. Clapp and swanston, 2009, but there does not seem to be any research specifically studying this case. Due to the problems associated with singleuse plastic bags and following signing of legislation related to plastic bags1, governor cuomo convened the new york state plastic bag task force in february 2017 to develop a report and proposed legislation to address the detrimental impact of. Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countriesban. Rwandas plastic bag ban has been mentioned in several scholarly articles on the policy implementation of reduction of plastic bags consumption see sharp et al, 2010. Plastic bag bans designed to generate and protect bag revenue from competition. Waste plastic, the challenge facing developing countries. India shelves plan on countrywide ban on singleuse plastic. Additionally, customers use more plastic produce bags, which undercuts the effect of the ban. Legislative bill drafting commission in senate 12007028. Plastic bags have been found floating north of the arctic.
Every year 17 billion carrier bags are given away free in the uk tha. Apr 29, 2018 the first country to ban plastic bags was bangladesh in 2002. However, the real reason for a plastic bag ban has nothing to do with the environment and. Aug 28, 2017 a ban on plastic bags came into force in kenya on monday in a bid to slow pollution, with offenders liable to jail time or hefty fines. May 18, 2019 the first phase of the countrys antiplastic initiative began in 2017 to protect the youth and environment, with an initial ban on the manufacture of plastic bags and incountry.
The government has banned the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags for commercial and household packaging. An assessment of the environmental and economic effects of grocery bag bans and taxes by julian morris and brian seasholes executive summary in the past 15 years, approximately 190 municipalities in the u. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. National environment management authority nema ban on. Plastic bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for use as garbage bags or to contain pet waste, or approved compostable food and yard waste bags are exempt. In the city of santa barbara, two years of ban implementation resulted in eliminating. The department of environmental protection will update this guidance document as additional questions are received. Andrew cuomo explained how a ban on plastic bags in new york during a briefing friday, march 29, 2019, at the state capitol. Africa is leading the world in plastic bag bans quartz africa. An evaluation of the effects of californias proposed plastic. Provided 28 however, nothing in this section shall preclude a person from coordinat.
Plastic bag surfrider foundation public file repository. There are exemptions for several types of plastic bags. Oregon has not taken statewide action to suspend the plastic bag ban, also known as hb2509, but due to supply chain concerns, grocery stores might run out of paper bags and have. The truth about plastic bag bans conservation law foundation. Foods who do not offer plastic bags and distribute paper bags at the point of sale to customers who did not bring their own reusable bags. Plastic bags defy any kind of attempt at disposal, be it through recycling, burning or land. Example of instruments to minimize singleuse plastic waste 68 iv. Most of the new laws provisions went into effect january 1, 2010. The ordinance went into effect on january 22, 2019. Many countries have banned plastic bags due to public concern over the serious negative impact on the environment and agriculture, especially, in agricultural countries, such as yemen, bangladesh, india, pakistan, south africa, etc.
But two officials said there would be no immediate move to ban plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, straws and certain types of sachets and instead the government would try to curb their use. Assessing the impact of the complete ban on plastic carry bag. Whether it be single use plastic or normal easily substituted plastic items, such as a tooth brush. As a comparison of weight, the study reported that 28. Singleuse straws and cutlery are discarded on beach or washed into sound via stormwatersystems plastics break down into microplasticsand are consumed by marine life 3 8. Feb 27, 2020 new york business owners are bracing for confused and angry customers after a statewide ban on singleuse plastic bags takes effect sunday. Some places have introduced a ban on thin plastic bags. Every year, around 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Policy tools to limit the use of plastic bags 23 table 2. Since then many countries have begun to follow suit with country wide bans, local partial bans, and taxes or disincentives on using plastic bags.
The first country to ban plastic bags was bangladesh in 2002. Guidance on singleuse plastic carryout bag ban question 1. Phil penta, managing partner of the openair produce. Taiwan has banned both plastic bags and plastic utensils.
New york business owners are bracing for confused and angry customers after a statewide ban on singleuse plastic bags takes effect sunday. When plastic bags are burned, they release a host of poisonous chemicals including dioxin into the air. When did the districts law on paper and plastic bags go into effect. Why did dc pass a bag fee for disposable paper and plastic bags. Plastic waste causes a plethora of problems when it leaks into the environment. Jul 01, 2017 plastic bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for use as garbage bags or to contain pet waste, or approved compostable food and yard waste bags are exempt.
We investigate the impact of a municipal plastic bags ban on bags use behavior, based on a field survey carried out among consumers and retailers across selected municipalities. The terrible plastic bag laws of florida and these 9 other states. This style of ordinance is sometimes called a first generation plastic bag ban. Survey of consumer attitudes to the act plastic bag ban.
Which brings us to the second part second step is educating others. Former mayor adrian fenty signed the bill july 6, 2009. Due to the covid19 outbreak, deq has important information to share about the singleuse bag ban. It applies to retail outlets required to pay sales tax. Plastic grocery bags are banned in aspen, colorado, and the trend is spreading as other cities, including austin, boulder, philadelphia, and portland, oregon, consider potential plastic bans. Bags made of plastic provided by a restaurant, tavern or similar food service establishment to carry out or deliver prepared food. This ban on plastic bags comes into effect on the 28 th august 2017. These are the waste products of a throwaway culture that treats plastic as a disposable material rather than a valuable resource to be harnessed. Overall, plastic bag bans increase prices for consumers, decrease profit for producers, and decrease economic activity in the area affected by the plastic bag ban.
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