ACTION BY OTHER COUNTRIES
Oct 05, 2007
INDIA<br>Himachal Pradesh in August 2007 became the first state in India to impose a complete ban on polythene bags. State chief minister Veerbhadra Singh said proper care would be taken to rehabilitate the small-scale industries affected by this ban. The people of Himachal were happy with the move
INDIA
Himachal Pradesh in August 2007 became the first state in India to impose a complete ban on polythene bags. State chief minister Veerbhadra Singh said proper care would be taken to rehabilitate the small-scale industries affected by this ban. The people of Himachal were happy with the move. Mumbai (formally Bombay), Jamu and Kashmir also banned polythene bags.
IRELAND
A decade ago, Ireland levied a heavy tax on polythene, ranging from 4.5 to 15 Euro cents (sh11250-sh168,750). This levy is paid by the end user of plastic bags. Because of increased prices, the use of polythene bags reduced.
HONG KONG
In May 1994 a ‘Use Fewer Plastic Bags’ campaign was launched with an initial target of reducing use by 10%. More than 1,500 retail outlets agreed to take part in the drive and devised action plans to achieve the target. The campaign was a resounding success. In its first year, more than 30% of participating retailers achieved or surpassed the 10% reduction target, leading to an overall reduction of more than 35 million plastic bags.
SOUTH AFRICA
Known as the country’s “national flower†because they litter streets, retailers handing out the bags now face a fine of 100,000 rand ($13,800 or sh21m) or a 10-year jail sentence. The legislation means shoppers will either have to take bags with them when they go shopping, or buy new, thick, stronger plastic bags that are easier and more profitable to recycle.
CHINA
Passed a law in 2003 that companies that were distributing bags would be fined up to 300,000 Taiwan dollars ($8,940) under the new law, and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) launched television commercials urging individuals not to use them. In Taipei City, beginning July 1, 2002, the EPA had implemented the “Plastic Shopping Bag and Plastic Disposable Dishes Use Restriction Policy,†imposing restrictions on the use of plastic shopping bags.
BANGLADESH
The Government of Bangladesh banned the use of polythene (very thin plastic) bags in the capital city of Dhaka, effective from January 1, 2002. A nationwide ban was to follow on the March 1. The initial reaction to the ban has been mostly positive, with Dhaka residents turning to the use of jute bags, the declining “golden fibre†of Bangladesh.
ITALY
The Italian government taxes every non-biodegradable plastic bag 250 lira (about 15 US cents). This increased the cost of the bags and people stopped using them
Compiled by: Conan Businge
Himachal Pradesh in August 2007 became the first state in India to impose a complete ban on polythene bags. State chief minister Veerbhadra Singh said proper care would be taken to rehabilitate the small-scale industries affected by this ban. The people of Himachal were happy with the move. Mumbai (formally Bombay), Jamu and Kashmir also banned polythene bags.
IRELAND
A decade ago, Ireland levied a heavy tax on polythene, ranging from 4.5 to 15 Euro cents (sh11250-sh168,750). This levy is paid by the end user of plastic bags. Because of increased prices, the use of polythene bags reduced.
HONG KONG
In May 1994 a ‘Use Fewer Plastic Bags’ campaign was launched with an initial target of reducing use by 10%. More than 1,500 retail outlets agreed to take part in the drive and devised action plans to achieve the target. The campaign was a resounding success. In its first year, more than 30% of participating retailers achieved or surpassed the 10% reduction target, leading to an overall reduction of more than 35 million plastic bags.
SOUTH AFRICA
Known as the country’s “national flower†because they litter streets, retailers handing out the bags now face a fine of 100,000 rand ($13,800 or sh21m) or a 10-year jail sentence. The legislation means shoppers will either have to take bags with them when they go shopping, or buy new, thick, stronger plastic bags that are easier and more profitable to recycle.
CHINA
Passed a law in 2003 that companies that were distributing bags would be fined up to 300,000 Taiwan dollars ($8,940) under the new law, and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) launched television commercials urging individuals not to use them. In Taipei City, beginning July 1, 2002, the EPA had implemented the “Plastic Shopping Bag and Plastic Disposable Dishes Use Restriction Policy,†imposing restrictions on the use of plastic shopping bags.
BANGLADESH
The Government of Bangladesh banned the use of polythene (very thin plastic) bags in the capital city of Dhaka, effective from January 1, 2002. A nationwide ban was to follow on the March 1. The initial reaction to the ban has been mostly positive, with Dhaka residents turning to the use of jute bags, the declining “golden fibre†of Bangladesh.
ITALY
The Italian government taxes every non-biodegradable plastic bag 250 lira (about 15 US cents). This increased the cost of the bags and people stopped using them
Compiled by: Conan Businge