Plastic Bags Banned in China
China’s State Council has declared a ban on the manufacture of plastic bags to help protect the environment. This directive also instructs supermarkets and shops to stop giving free plastic bags to shoppers. They are told to charge fees for plastic bag use if the consumers would insist on getting them. The Chinese government is hoping that these new policies will influence consumer behavior leading to a reduction of plastic waste and effecting a positive impact on the environment.
The use of free plastic bags was first practiced in Guangdong province in the 1980s. This is where China first prospered commercially. Because the plastic bags were light, waterproof, and convenient, the consumers were easily drawn to replace their old traditional baskets, a habit that eventually spread nationwide. And because the bags were free, the people developed the use-and-discard practice.
Plastics will take more than 2 centuries to dissolve in the environment. China uses around 3 billion plastic bags in a day, accumulating over 3 million tons of plastic bags to dispose of in a year. Most of these go to dumping sites or landfills, and many end up in the surroundings.
The Chinese people met the new plastic bag policy with different reactions. Environmentalists are hopeful that it would help minimize pollution. Other people are not as happy as the environmentalists because of the inconvenience it would bring to consumers.
Supermarkets in China have been selling cheap reusable cloth bags for shopping but these have not been selling well. One reason is because shoppers have been accustomed to receiving free plastic bags and were not that willing to spend for a shopping bag. On the other hand, the scenario in campuses is quite the opposite. Environmental groups in schools led the campaign to charge for the use of plastic bags, resulting in 80–90% reduction in plastic bag usage.
Whatever the people’s reaction, it has been projected that this directive will most probably decrease the usage of plastic bags by two-thirds – a very significant number. Recycling is also envisioned to increase tremendously. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to give up some old habits for the benefit of the environment.
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