Last update - 00:00 07/09/2007
The world is my bag
By Amir Zohar
b Ireland - The world's greatest success. In 2001 a law came into effect that imposed a tax of 15 eurocents (85 Israeli agurot) on every plastic bag. Since then their use has decreased by 90 percent and the state treasury has recorded revenues of more than 10 million euros. The supermarkets offer multiple-use bags in exchange for payment.
b Taiwan - The law bans the use of plastic bags in chain stores, food stores and restaurants. The fine for breaking the law is 300,000 Taiwan dollars (about U.S. $10,000).
b Australia - The retailers and the government agreed to reduce the use of plastic bags, and concurrently the gover slogan, "Without bags, please." Stores are prohibited from giving out bags without limit, and containers for recycling have been installed.
b Germany - Stores and shopping centers request a voluntary donation of about 50 eurocents per bag (about NIS 3) and offer cloth bags at reduced prices.
b France - In some places there is a quick checkout counter for people who have multiple-use bags. In Corsica the local law bans the use of plastic bags.
b Denmark - Plastic bags are dealt with under the packaging law, which places responsibility for collecting the bags on the manufacturers, and they take money for their use. Use of the bags has plummeted by 66 percent since the law took effect.
b United States - In the United States there are no federal or state laws concerning the use of plastic bags. An exception is San Francisco, which in March of this year decided to ban the free distribution of disposable bags and instructed the chain stores to provide bags made of paper, biodegradable plastic or cloth.
b India - The law prohibits the use of plastic bags due to repeated blockages of the drainage system. (Other countries where their use is banned for similar reasons are Tanzania, Madagascar and Bangladesh.)
Source: Ministry for Environmental Protection