China To Ban Plastic Shopping Bags Effective In June, 2008 - PRW.com

9 January 2008 - China has issued a ban on the production of ultra-thin plastic bags and their free distribution by supermarkets and shops effective from June. Too many plastic bags are used in China, which are not disposed of properly, wasting oil and littering the country, according to China's cabinet, the State Council.

The cabinet added that the country’s financial authorities should use taxes to discourage the production and sale of plastic bags and encourage recycling. It also urged rubbish collectors to separate out plastic for reprocessing and reduce the amount burnt or landfilled.

The cabinet made the announcement and recommendations in a notice posted on the central government web site (http://www.gov.cn/). Reuters reported: "Our country consumes huge amounts of plastic bags every year. While providing convenience to consumers, they have also caused serious pollution, and waste of energy and resources, because of excessive use and inadequate recycling."

EDIT

http://www.prw.com/homePBP_NADetail_UP.aspx?ID_Site=818&ID_Article=24140&mode=1&curpage=0

At the grocery stores, there is an option (depending on how well you know the check-out person) of a "Paper Charge" (or something to that effect) of ten cents per paper bag.

I probably bought twenty canvas bags before I got completely with the program and quit leaving them at home or work and finding myself purchasing a new one for a dollar.

Our town was also the first with a ban on trans-fats in restaurants.

do you live in a large or small town? How did the people in the town react to the ban?

Tiburon, CA, a very progressive place.

http://www.ci.tiburon.ca.us/ Go to "Visitors" and look around (pic gallery, webcam if you have Windows)

I have yet to hear a resident complain. But the tourists are appalled.

Guess who was causing all the litter with the plastic bags? Yep.

Following our lead, San Francisco (that little place across the Bay) is considering doing the same thing. As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure it has already been passed for a future date of implementation.

a pilot program this year to phase out plastic bags....I will gladly keep extra reuseables in my car to help them out.

so I can bring it up at my town's resource conservation board meeting. thanks!

I bought bags at www.1bagatatime.com last spring and use them all the time at the grocery store. I just keep them in my trunk. They're great bags and very reasonably priced.