EU Plastic Bag Debate Highlights a Wider Global Problem

jones_supa writes "An EU citizen uses around 200 plastic bags per year. That's too much, says the EU. But wasting plastic bags is not just a European problem. Countries around the world are struggling with the issue, and it especially affects growing economies such as Asia. Some Southeast Asian countries don't even have the proper infrastructure in place to dispose of the bags properly. The problems for the environment are many. Plastic bags usually take several hundred years until they decay, thereby filling landfills, while animals often mistake the plastic for food and choke to death. Additionally they are a major cause of seaborne pollution, which is a serious hazard for marine life. This autumn, EU started ambitious plans which aim to reduce usage 80% by 2017. Some countries have already applied measures to slow plastic bag use: England has added a 5p charge to previously free bags, and in Ireland the government has already imposed a tax of 22 euro cents ($0.29) per plastic bag. The EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potonik, said, 'We're taking action to solve a very serious and highly visible environmental problem.'"

Comments

England

[biodata]

In England the government has said that a 5p charge will come in 2015 AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION. Too early to count chickens.

Re:England

[Chrisq]

Supermarkets already charge for plastic bags in England.

Some do, mostly "low cost" stores - not Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's or any of the major supermarkets I know of

Re:England

[TheRaven64]

In Wales, the charge has been in place for over a year.

Re:England

[Chrisq]

You hang your backpack off your handlebars?

A colleague who cycles everywhere (even in the snow - he's insane) says "Never use a backpack for something heavy. If the weight shifts it will pull you off track. Use panniers instead and you can carry loads of heavy stuff without problems"

Re:England

[gutnor]

It is not only the price but also the fact that there is no longer a pile of bag available. You need to ask for the right amount of bags, and it gets recorded on your receipt. Cashier will also very often forget to even ask you the question so you end up with your stuff pilling and no bag to pack them until you get the attention of the cashier.

It is all the little annoyance combined that make it work. It seems to work much less in Marc and Spenser Food Only where somebody is packing your stuff for you.

Re:Taxing is not going to fix the problem

[Sockatume]

There already are better bags, they're offered for sale alongside the cheap nasty ones. Either more durable plastic, or foil-lined bags for freezer items, or a range of light-to-heavy-duty fabric bags.

Biodegradable is not enough

[Errol backfiring]

You are right to say compostable. Merely biodegradable usually means that there are a lot of harmful chemicals after the degrading process.

Re:Taxing is not going to fix the problem

[Sockatume]

I'm familiar with the ACC's study. It's bacteriophobic bunk, to be frank, from a campaign group that's opposed to any reduction in plastic bag use. The main issue is that it conflates the presence of scary bacteria with the presence of even-potentially-harmful levels of those pathogens. It belongs in the same trashcan as those chemophobic studies that find trace amounts of scary chemicals in factory-farmed potatoes or whateverthefuck.