Global ban on plastic boom! Fifteen countries have already acted
The body of a sperm whale washed up on thecoast of Sardinia, Italy, has attracted the attention of the world. Anatomistsfound 22 kilograms of plastic waste in its stomach, including plastic straws,plastic bags and fishing nets. Also in its belly are the unborn baby whales. Italso drew the attention of Sergio Costa, Italy's minister of environment andterritorial marine protection, who spoke on a social platform and referred to abill recently voted by the European Parliament.
The bill isa "plastic ban" passed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg onMarch 27. By 2021, EU Member States will ban the use of 10 kinds of disposable plasticproducts, including disposable plastic tableware, plastic cotton swabs, plasticstraws and plastic mixing sticks. A total of 560 votes were in favor of theban, with 35 against it and 28 abstaining. It is considered to be a heavy blowagainst plastic waste encroaching on beaches and polluting the sea.
(15 countries / regions have issued plasticban orders worldwide)
Hainan Province, China
From 2020
On February 21, the pressconference on the implementation plan for the comprehensive prohibition of theproduction, sale and use of disposable non degradable plastic products inHainan Province was held in Haikou. The reporter learned that by the end of 2019,the local regulations and standard system for banning the production, sale anduse of disposable non degradable plastic products in Hainan Province should beestablished and improved, and the supervision and law enforcement system shouldbe improved to form alternative product supply energy power;
By the end of 2020, theproduction, sale and use of disposable non degradable plastic bags and plastictableware will be banned in the whole province;
By the end of 2025, theproduction, sale and use of plastic products listed in the list of disposablenon degradable plastic products prohibited in Hainan Province (for TrialImplementation) will be banned.
New Zealand
It will be implemented from July 1, 2019
From July 1 this year,disposable plastic shopping bags will be banned in all retail businesses,including clothing stores and dairy stores;
The Ministry ofenvironmental protection has issued a document confirming that the maximum finefor serious violations and ineffective persuasion is $100000!
the republic of korea
It will be implemented from January 1, 2019
South Korea's Ministry ofenvironment said in a statement on its official website that according to the"law amendment on resource conservation and promotion of resourcerecycling", since January 1, 2019, more than 2000 hypermarkets and 11000supermarkets with more than 165 square meters of shops will be banned fromdisposable plastic bags.
In addition to the use ofplastic bags for fish and meat, related hypermarkets and supermarkets can onlyprovide customers with environmental protection shopping bags, paper shoppingbags, recyclable containers and other items. If found using disposable plasticbags, businesses will be fined up to three million won (about 2700 dollars).
New York, USA
From January 2019
Qiaoqiao.com, January 15(Xinhua) according to the US "overseas Chinese daily" reported thatNew York governor Gormo plans to implement a ban on plastic bags throughout thestate. In order to implement environmental protection policies, he will includethe ban on plastic bags in the 2019 administrative budget. He pointed out that"the bold action of banning plastic bags and promoting recycling willreduce the garbage in our community, protect our water resources, and create acleaner and greener environment for all Color of New York ".
Recently, Hoboken has begunto impose a ban on plastic bags. Supermarkets such as shoprite sell plasticbags for 10 cents.
Chile
It will be implemented from February 3, 2019
On August 3, 2018, Chileofficially promulgated the "plastic ban law", prohibiting allsupermarkets and shops across the country from providing plastic bags tocustomers. Chile became the first country in Latin America to completely banthe supply of plastic bags to shoppers.
The "plastic banlaw" stipulates that from February 3, 2019, all large supermarkets andshopping malls shall no longer provide free or charged plastic bags toshoppers, and the maximum fine for each illegal plastic bag is 370 US dollars;Chile will completely "ban plastic" from August 3, 2020.
France
From 2020
On July 12, France's"European Times" reported that the Paris City Council recently votedto pass a resolution stipulating that from September, major municipal publicinstitutions such as schools, nursing homes, stadiums and museums willgradually ban the use of plastic straws.
France has banneddisposable plastic bags less than 50 microns in thickness since 2016. Inaddition, the French government will ban all plastic disposable tableware in2020 and replace them with biodegradable bags and compostable bags.
EU Member States
From 2021
Berlin, October 24, 2018(reporter Gu Gang) - the European Parliament voted on the 24th to ban the useof disposable plastic products from 2021 to curb the increasingly seriouspollution of the marine and ecological environment by plastic waste.
According to the proposal,from 2021, the EU will ban the production and sale of disposable plasticproducts such as disposable tableware, cotton swabs and straws, which will bereplaced by paper, straw or reusable hard plastics.
Plastic bottles will be collectedseparately according to the existing recycling mode. By 2025, the recovery rateof disposable plastic bottles in Member States will reach 90%.
Australia
Effective from July 1, 2018
From July 1, 2018,Queensland and Western Australia have banned retailers from providingdisposable ultra-thin plastic bags to customers.
According to Queenslandregulations, retailers who illegally provide disposable ultra-thin plastic bagswith a thickness of no more than 35 microns may face a huge fine of up to a$6300 (equivalent to RMB 30000).
Woolworth, the largestsupermarket chain in Australia, has stopped providing disposable plastic bagsto customers in 1000 stores nationwide since June 20, 2018. Customers need tobring their own shopping bags or buy recyclable environmental protectionplastic bags when shopping.
The Australian governmentsaid that by 2023, all disposable plastic products, such as plastic bags,takeout boxes, coffee cups and French fries bags, would be phased out inAustralia
And called on the majorlocal business organizations in Australia to promote the ban
India
From 2022
On June 5, worldenvironment day, India's prime minister announced plans to eliminate alldisposable plastic products by 2022.
The "plasticrestriction order" of Maharashtra, India's second most populous state,took effect on June 23.
The US cable news network(CNN) said that after the ban came into effect, inspectors began to appearfrequently on the streets of the city, mercilessly issuing fines to illegalbusinesses. On June 24, more than 80 businesses in Mumbai, the capital of thestate, were fined 400000 rupees.
britain
From January 2019
In January this year,British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she would spare no effort toban plastics. In addition to levying taxes on various plastic products andincreasing research and development of replaceable materials, she also plannedto eliminate all avoidable plastic wastes, including plastic bags, beveragebottles, straws and most food packaging bags, by 2042.
In addition to thegovernment, the queen has also expressed her strong determination to ban theuse of plastic straws and bottles on all royal sites.
Macao SAR
Oversupply of sales
The Executive Council ofthe Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) announced on the 14th that ithad completed the discussion on the draft law on the restriction of the supplyof plastic bags. It suggested that the "plastic bag charge" should beimplemented for the provision of plastic bags in retail activities, and thatthe merchants should charge a fee of Macao dollar per plastic bag.
The bill proposes that inretail activities, plastic bags must be provided to others on a paid basis, andthe price of each plastic bag must be charged according to the instructionspublished by the chief executive in the SAR Gazette.
In particular, for healthand safety reasons, the bill provides for the provision of plastic bags free ofcharge for the storage of prepackaged food or medicine, non hermetically packedfood or medicine, food or medicine that should be kept in a cold and hot state,and goods that are subject to safety restrictions on carrying hand luggage inthe restricted area of the airport.
At the same time, it issuggested that the environmental protection bureau should be responsible formonitoring the compliance with the law. For violation of the relevantprovisions on restricting the supply of plastic bags, a fine of Macao $1000will be imposed, and a fine of 10000 Macao dollars will be imposed if thecooperation obligation is violated.
In addition, the billproposes that in order to strengthen publicity and education, raise environmentalawareness and promote the reduction of the supply of plastic bags, the billrequires that publicity materials on the provision of plastic bags should beposted in conspicuous places in retail places.
Iceland
From 2021
According to the Icelandicreview on January 31, Gu e mundur INGI Gu e brandsson, Iceland's environmentminister, has proposed a new bill in the Icelandic parliament to ban the use ofplastic bags by 2021. If the bill is passed, companies will not be allowed toprovide plastic bags to customers for free. By 2021, companies will not beallowed to distribute any plastic bags, free or paid.
Businesses can still sellplastic bags on store shelves, but not at checkout points.
According to the act,individuals will use no more than 90 plastic bags per year from the beginningof 2020 and no more than 40 bags from 2026.
The proposed bill isstricter than the EU Directive on reducing the use of plastic bags. TheEuropean Union allows countries to exempt the thinnest plastic bags from theban, while Iceland does not.
Washington State
From 2020
According to the plasticrestriction order of Washington state, there will be no disposable plastic bagsin supermarkets from 2020 at the latest.
It is reported that inaddition to banning the use of disposable plastic bags, the bill also requiresrecycled paper bags to contain at least 40% of recycled materials. However,some disposable plastic bags used in stores will be exempted from the ban,including wrapping fruit.