China sets good example: Bans some plastic bags

William Atkins
Sunday, 29 May 2011 23:49

Science - Climate

The Chinese news agency Xinhau is reporting that China is expanding its nationwide ban on free plastic shopping bags to minimize the 'white pollution'. This seems to be a good policy for all countries, including the United States and Australia.

 

The official China news agency Xinhua reported on May 28, 2011, that free plastic bags thinner than 0.025 millimeters will not be allowed at bookstores and pharmacies within the country.

Before this, beginning on June 1, 2008, China began a ban on giving out free plastic bags at grocery stores. [Xinhua (May 28, 2011): 'No more free plastic bags in China's bookstores, drugstores: official']

Further, the AFP reports in its May 28, 2011 article 'China to step up fight against plastic addiction' that 'Around three billion plastic bags were being used daily in China before the 2008 ban. Since then, according to the NDRC [National Development and Reform Commission], people have used at least 24 billion fewer plastic bags every year, the report said late Saturday.'

China is one of the few countries in the world that is beginning to ban plastic shopping bags in some sectors of its economy.

As such, China seems to be setting a very good example for other countries to follow.

Instead of giving away free plastic bags, these bookstores and pharmacies in China will have to charge for them, which presumably would make people think twice before using plastic bags.

If the Chinese are like Americans, the worst part of providing free plastic bags, is that the vast majority of them are not recycled, but just tossed away after one use into landfills.

If people would recycle plastic bags, or re-use them, then the environmental damage of such bags would be lessened.

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