China Bans Plastic Bags
In an effort to curb pollution and litter, the Chinese government has issued a ban on plastic bags, which went into effect June 1. Customers must now supply their own bags from home or pay a fee to get one, and shops found to be violating the ban will face a fine or risk having their goods confiscated. Given that China uses 37 million barrels of crude oil each year to manufacture plastic bags and produces up to three billion plastic bags a day, it's a smart eco-conscious move—and might even bolster China's reputation, which hasn't been doing too great with scandals every which way.
China now joins the roster of countries who have gone plastic-free, like Ireland, Uganda and South Africa. Earlier this year, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to outlaw plastic bags, and Whole Foods also stopped offering plastic bags as of April. Here's hoping it becomes the next big trend—it's certainly one worth following. [via Slate]
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
12 Comments:
I have a feeling it's easier for them to implement changes like that because they don't have to deal with lobbyists...
My question is, will they still be making plastic bags for other countries who continue to use them?
Cassaendra at 11:21AM on 06/11/08
Will I have to put my garbage in a paper bag?
Kerosena at 11:32AM on 06/11/08
Definitely a step in the right direction, and yes, it appears that there'll be an outright ban on the manufacture of ultra thin plastic bags. Such was the impact of the yet-to-be implemented ban that the largest plastic bag manufacturer has closed its doors and is selling off all of its equipment. That being said, 10,000 people are out of work.
Yeah, lobbyists.
jayfallon at 11:39AM on 06/11/08
They're working on this in Seattle as well, and people are livid. Like it's taking away one of their basic human rights.
I think it's a great idea, but I've been using canvas shopping bags for years.
unarata at 1:50PM on 06/11/08
There is a little I hate more than plastic bags in trees. And with our New Mexico wind there are plenty of disgusting plastic bags in trees.
And did you ever drive over one and have it stick to your exhaust system. Fumes for days....
Blue Iris at 2:11PM on 06/11/08
"it's a smart eco-conscious move" is right!
Eventually, I think we will be on-board globally!
hungrychristel at 2:25PM on 06/11/08
I went green months ago and bought nice big reusable bags from Wegmans, I love them, much easier to carry than a lot of plastics and these hold quite a bit. My problem is remembering to bring them inside. Last weekend when I went grocery shopping I forgot and left them in the trunk. At least I didn't leave them at home... except that one time.
Southern_bella at 2:34PM on 06/11/08
I think plastic grocery bags should be outlawed. They're constantly flying through the air and getting stuck in fences and on power lines. Trader Joe's has the BEST paper bags ever with the handles at the top and I don't recall them ever using plastic. Plastic garbage bags, I believe are designed to break down in the sunlight.
jayfallon...I agree wholeheartedly. Grocery bags are made from petroleum and so there you go........
RichardCrystal at 4:13PM on 06/11/08
China's ban on plastic bags is one of their many pre-Olympics public relations gimmicks. Let's see until AFTER the games if they continue to enforce the ban. But at least their ban seem to be against all plastic bags, in SF, it only applies to large grocery stores.
When I was in Hong Kong a few months ago, some stores already use these "reusable" bags...they barely made it back to my hotel in one piece. Wonder what's the carbon foot print on those useless "reusable" bags.
Same goes for all those free, manufactured in China "reusable" bags I got at this year's earth day. Two bags actually ripped when I open them to use for the first time! I am still using the two bags (I love them, they are easier to carry and super strong) I got 2 years ago at another Earth Day event...me thinks the durability of re-usable bags are going down with their "popularity".
gnomatic at 4:20PM on 06/11/08
They do this in lots of countries. I currently live in Korea and I have to buy plastic bags at all grocery stores. I did when I lived in Germany too.
smile at 8:22PM on 06/11/08
I have to say, as much as I hate plastic bags, paper bags truly aren't that much better or are just as bad as plastic bags. I think I read somewhere once that the amount of energy that it takes to produce one paper bag is nearly 4 times as much energy it takes to produce several plastic bags. I'm not sure if that was the real statistic or not, but either way, I totally agree with the use of reusable bags. Or if you're not carrying much anyways, don't use a bag at all.
hefloats at 2:39AM on 06/12/08
@smile--my sister lived an Germany for awhile, too. She still carries her own shopping bags and she gives cute, reusable bags as gifts...I have three different ones from her...I keep forgetting to use them, I'm going to have to put them in my car.
@gnomatic--I share your cynicism on China's motives behind "eco-conscious" posturing. The negative press about pollution and corruption can not be ignored. I won't go into it here because it's not the forum, but man! what were the members of the Olympic Committee thinking?!
wookie at 2:22PM on 06/12/08