Fwd: China Bans Plastic Bags

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

Apologies for Cross-Postings

> Subject: China Bans Plastic
> Bags
> Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:07:47 -0800
>
> From
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7178287.stm
>
> China announces plastic bag ban
> China's rapid
> development has triggered concerns over pollution
>
> The Chinese government says it is banning shops from handing out free
> plastic bags from June this year, in a bid to curb pollution. 
>
> Production of ultra-thin plastic bags
> will also be banned, the State Council said in a statement. 
>
> Instead, people will be encouraged to
> use baskets or reusable cloth bags for their shopping, the council said.
>
> The move comes amid growing concern
> about pollution and environmental degradation in China. 
>
> China was using huge quantities of
> plastic bags each year, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in its
> directive, posted on the main government website. 
>
> "Plastic shopping bags, due to
> reasons such as excessive use and inefficient recycling, have caused
> serious energy and resources waste and environment pollution," it
> said. 
>
> Easily discarded 
>
> Of particular concern were cheap,
> flimsy bags that many shopkeepers routinely handed out to customers.
>
> "The super-thin bags have
> especially become a main source of plastic pollution as they are easy to
> break and thus disposed of carelessly," the statement said. 
>
> Shops that violated the new rules
> could be fined or have their goods confiscated, it said. 
>
> The council also called for greater
> recycling efforts from rubbish collectors, and suggested financial
> authorities should consider higher taxes on the production and sale of
> plastic bags. 
>
> In recent years, China's rapid
> development has triggered concerns over pollution and use of resources.
>
> But correspondents say that there is a
> growing awareness that more needs to be done to protect the environment.

Gary Liss       
916-652-7850    
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com