ban

Yes, we've all heard about the different instances where the Chinese government has banned something- whether it be access to the uncensored internet or people with "mental diseases" from the Olympics. However, this time the ban is something we should all be applauding- the ban of free plastic bags.

Now, all shops and supermarkets must require customers to pay for any plastic bags they use. The main reason cited is the vast amount of pollution and litter caused by the plastic- and with people using around 3 billion bags per day, the garbage adds up. (Still, on a per capita basis, the U.S. uses far more).

This practice may also economically benefit many of the stores. At the grocery store where I work, we are instructed to use paper bags unless the customer requests otherwise, simply because plastic bags costs more compared to how much they are able to hold. Paper bags cost the store 7 cents a bag, but can hold up to 10 items, whereas plastic ones rack up 4 cents a bag but only fit a few items. I'm not sure how much the bags in China cost, but there is no doubt that shopkeepers and owners will save money.

Other countries that have this same restriction on plastic bags include South Africa, Bangladesh, and Uganda. Do you see an irony here? All these poor, "backwards" countries have stronger environmental policies than the U.S., a supposed leader in the green movement. The same issue applies with standards on fuel mileage, where the U.S. lags behind on an international level.

People need to stop using and then wasting plastic.However, the emphasis should not shift to paper bags, which have their own problems, but reusable bags.

To learn more, read this CNN article.

This image is from Dwell.