User:Scookucsd222/Phase-out of lightweight plastic bags

1. European Union
"In November 2013, the European Commission published a proposal aiming to reduce the consumption of lightweight (thickness below 50 microns) plastic carrier bags. Under the proposal, EU member states can choose the most appropriate measures to discourage the use of plastic bags. On 29 April 2015 the European Parliament passed Directive 2015/720 to reduce plastic bag use by 50% by 2017 and 80% by 2019.[needs update]"

FIRST COMMENT:


 * G. this information is out of date, perhaps look at what the EU member states chose to do with plastic bags
 * EU has changed so perhaps their views and directive have changed
 * did directive actually do what it was supposed to by 2019? it is now 2022
 * Library of Congress says that this Directive on Single-Use Plastics took effect on July 2, 2021
 * New goals want to have 77% of plastic bottles produced by the market recycled by 2025, 90% must be recycled, 25% of all PET bottles must be made of recycled plastic, and 30% of bottles by 2030
 * European Union: Ban on Single-Use Plastics Takes Effect. (2021, July 18). The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2021-07-18/european-union-ban-on-single-use-plastics-takes-effect/

2. Israel
"Since January 2017, large retailers are required to charge consumers for plastic bags with handles, at NIS 0.10 for each bag. The tax revenues will be used to fund public waste-management programs.[citation needed] The average use of plastic bags in Israel in 2014 was 275 per person per year. Four months after the law came into force, the number of disposable plastic bags distributed by retailers subject to the law had dropped by 80%."

SECOND COMMENT


 * F. Citation needed about Israel's waste management project.
 * After some digging I found that most of this information comes from an article called "Effectiveness of plastic regulation around the world" by ScAAN.net found on page 2
 * Scientist and Action Advocacy Network. (2019, April 15). Effectiveness of plastic regulation around the world. ScANN. https://plasticpollutioncoalitionresources.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Effectiveness_of_plastic_regulation_around_the_world_4_pages.pdf
 * There are some other articles I liked but I have to request access, will have to wait for the requested texts to be emailed to me

3. Criticism
"Plastic bag bans can lead to larger black markets in plastic bags. The production of some non-plastic bags (e.g. paper, cotton, using virgin plastic such as plastic having thickness of 50 micron) can produce more greenhouse gas emissions than plastic bags, which means that greenhouse gas emissions may increase on net following plastic bag bans. Further, the bans can drive significant increases in sales of trash bags."

THIRD COMMENT


 * E, I felt that this viewpoint was underrepresented. Though I am a huge advocate for this, I think in order to supply a balanced viewpoint of the plastic bag ban. I have found that some of the methods, such as creating bulky plastic bags, cause more plastic to be consumed. I think use of paper bags should be an alternative perspective that should be considered. It is also worth evaluating who this tax affects more, the more wealthy consumers who pollute more, or the poorer consumers who are less likely to pollute.
 * Overall, the criticism or alternative methods acknowledged are no more than 2-3 sentences out of the whole article. Especially because the author cites at least 4 articles in this little blurb.

edit in sandbox first, then leave the evaluation on the talk page of the article in the relevant section

sign feedback with four tildes : ~Scookucsd

4. Jamaica
On 17 September 2018, the Jamaican Cabinet announced a total ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution and use of single-use plastic bags, effective 1 January 2019. The policy came in response to problems of improper disposal leading to drain clogging and expensive clean-up efforts. They phased single use plastic bags in waves, the most recent of which took effect 1 January 2021. ~lenelson2022

5. Canada
In March 2007, the small town of Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, became the first community in North America to ban bags.

The Toronto City Council voted on 6 June 2012, to ban plastic bags effective 1 January 2013, and to scrap the city's five-cent bag fee starting 1 July 2012. Industry groups have convinced city officials to include a grace period between 1 January 2013, and 30 June 2013, when no fines, only warnings, can be issued. The bag ban and five cent fee (six cents with HST) have both been overturned as of 28 November 2012 and it's up to individual retailers if they want to charge for plastic bags. Most stores, with the exception of a few national retailers do not charge.

The Canadian government had plans to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021, the list of items to be banned includes plastic straws, cotton swabs, stirrers, plates, cutlery as well as balloon sticks. This implementation of this plan was pushed back to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Canadian government still plans to implement the single-use plastic ban. ~lenelson2022

6. Greece
Prior to the introduction of legislation, Greece produced roughly 4 billion single-use plastic bags every year. Though the average person in Greece disposed of over 300 plastic bags annually, only 10% of the bags produced were recycled. A plastic bag charge was introduced on 1 January 2018. Initially bags cost 4 cents each, which then increased to 7 cents on 1 January 2019. Greece later drafted additional legislation that would work to discourage use of single-use plastics on 1 July 2021. The measures administered in this bill include banning merchants from ordering and selling single-use plastic bags and serviceware. ~Scookucsd222

7. Germany
The German Packaging Act was introduced on 1 January 2019 to limit the amount of disposable plastic bags used in packaging. Companies that plan to use packaging materials are now required to register with the government before distributing their products. If they do not comply, they can be fined up to €200,000 and banned from selling their products. Furthermore, this amendment establishes recycling quotas that markets are required to meet in order to avoid being fined. In 2019, 36% of plastic packaging was required to be recycled, but has since been increased to 63% in 2022. Additionally, The First Act to Amend the Packaging Act was introduced on 9 February 2021. Instating this amendment means Germany will ban all single-use plastic, including shopping bag s starting 1 January 2022. ~Scookucsd222

6. Criticism
Plastic bag bans can lead to larger black markets in plastic bags. Studies show that plastic bag bans can shift people away from using thin plastic bags, but it can also increase the use of unregulated single use paper bags or unregulated thicker plastic bags in areas where these are provided for free. Further, the bans can drive significant increases in sales of trash bags because people could no longer reuse their old grocery bags for things like lining small trash cans.

Additionally, the production of some non-plastic bags (e.g. paper, cotton, using virgin plastic such as plastic having thickness of 50 micron) can produce more greenhouse gas emissions than plastic bags, which means that greenhouse gas emissions may increase on net following plastic bag bans. Alternatives to plastic bags would need to be reused over a hundred times to make them more environmentally friendly than plastic bags. They are also viewed as less sanitary than plastic because they can bring germs from outside the store to high contact volume surfaces like carts and check out stands.

Rwanda
Rwanda's plastic bag ban went into effect in 2008. The Rwandan government has encouraged other countries in their region to ban plastic bags as well, starting in 2011.