Over the years, with the growing concern over plastics, more and more countries have begun to look at the damage caused by plastics to the environment. After China's plastic ban on “foreign garbage” was opened, Southeast Asian countries have been overwhelmed by the huge pressure of the surge in waste imports, and have successively played plastic ban cards. In the past, waste plastic exporting countries are also facing nowhere to export waste and backlogs. At home, the "environmental protection image" that has been painstakingly shaped over the years is at stake; while in remote Africa, although the overall economic level is lagging behind, it has a firmer determination to ban plasticity.
In 2019, many countries and regions have issued the voice of the ban on plastics. Let's review them together!
Asia
Korea
From January 1st, a plastic ban will be implemented in Seoul, South Korea. Plastic packaging other than fish, meat, vegetable plastic films and plastic boxes for storing goods in cold storage will be banned. Merchants must not use and provide customers with plastic bags including Disposable plastic packaging inside.
China
On February 21st, Hainan Province issued the "Implementation Plan for the Comprehensive Banning of the Production, Sale and Use of Disposable Non-degradable Plastic Products in Hainan Province". Regulations and standards. By the end of 2020, the province will ban the production, sale and use of disposable non-degradable plastic bags and plastic tableware. By the end of 2025, the entire province will ban the production, sale, and use of plastic products listed in the "Hainan Province Prohibition of Production and Sale of Disposable Non-degradable Plastic Products List (Trial)".
China Hong Kong
In mid-March, news came from the Hong Kong region that the Hong Kong SAR government is considering raising plastic bags from HK $ 0.5 to HK $ 1 and narrowing the exemption of some plastic shopping bag charges.
Macao, China
According to the "Macao Daily" report, Macau's "Restriction on Supply of Plastic Bags" Act is expected to take effect on November 18, and the law has stipulated the charges for plastic bags. Each retail sale of plastic bags will be charged MOP 1.
Pakistan
On August 14th, the Pakistan Plastic Restriction Order came into effect. The Pakistani government will take strong measures against disposable plastics. In Islamabad and its surrounding areas, the production, sale and use of various disposable plastic bags will be banned. It is reported that Punjab, Sindh and other places will also implement such regulations.
Kazakhstan
On September 20th, the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan signed a memorandum with the Atamenko National Entrepreneurs Association and the Association of Ecological Organizations on the same day, announcing that it would gradually restrict sales outlets across the country to provide plastic bags to customers for free. According to its Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Mirzagaliyev, the measure is expected to reduce plastic bag consumption by 30%. Voluntary principles are currently adopted, and plastic bags are expected to be completely banned by 2025.
India
On October 2th, India imposed a ban on plastics across the country and strictly followed plastic products such as plastic bags, plastic cups, and straws. In the same month, India once again issued a maritime environmental protection "plastic ban". Starting from October 16, 2019, the use of plastic tableware, disposable plastic bags, plastic boxes, bottles of less than 10 liters of washing liquid in bottles on transit ships was banned and the number reached 10 Liter bottled water containers; from January 1, 2020, transit ships are prohibited from using various plastic bags, plastic boxes, food packaging films, shock-proof thermal insulation packaging, sub-packed plastic containers, packaging bags, packaging bottle caps, etc.
Philippines
On November 7th, Philippine President Duterte proposed a ban on disposable plastic products. Prior to this, Philippine boxing stars and many members of the Senate have also proposed bills that restrict disposable plastics. These bills aimed at eliminating plastic pollution are still under consideration in Congress.
Africa
Tanzania
On May 16th, Tanzania announced that it will officially implement the "plastic ban" from June 1st, 2019, except for plastic products and packaging for medical services, industrial products, construction, agriculture, food, hygiene and waste treatment. Importing, exporting, manufacturing, selling, storing, supplying, and using portable plastic bags of all thicknesses will result in fines or imprisonment.
Algeria
On September 17th, Algeria officially announced that it would impose higher taxes on petroleum products and plastic bags. Minister of Environment Zeluwati said that since the establishment of the plastic bag tax, it has tripled, and this part of the tax will be transferred to the National Environment Fund, local government funds and national finance. In order to gradually abandon the use of plastic bags in the future, Afghan is negotiating with some plastics manufacturers with difficult business operations to transform and manufacture paper bags.
Europe
Germany
On August 11st, the German side stated that it intends to enact laws to ban the use of plastic bags, which is cited as the unsatisfactory effect of the actual implementation of the "plastic limit" voluntary agreement reached with retailers.
France
From September, major municipal public institutions in Paris, including schools, nursing homes, museums, stadiums, etc., will gradually ban the use of plastic straws.
Sweden
On September 18th, in the "2020 Budget" submitted to Parliament, the Swedish government proposed that a new waste incineration tax and a plastic bag tax would be levied. The waste incineration tax is a progressive tax rate, which is planned to be levied from April 1st, 2020; the plastic bag tax will be levied on standard plastic bags at 3 kronor and thin plastic bags at 30 auer, which is planned to be implemented from May 1st, 2020.
Spain
On October 10th, the Andalusia region of Spain announced that it would reduce the use of plastic bags by "exempting plastic taxes" next year. By that time, retail sites and public service establishments will be exempted from plastic taxes if they implement their commitment not to provide consumers with plastic bags.
Greece
On October 16th, the Greek government announced that it will ban the use of disposable plastic products by June 2020, with a view to improving coastal garbage pollution.
Ireland
In November, Irish Minister of Climate Action Richard Brewton stated that disposable coffee cups would be taxed by 2021, a move aimed at changing public consumption habits and reducing the environmental impact of using disposable plastic cups. A two-stage tax plan for take-away food containers and a three-stage tax plan for retail food packaging are expected to begin in 2022.
America
United States
On January 1st, New York City ’s “Foam Products Act” came into effect. After a six-month transition period, after July 1 ’s formal implementation, restaurants in New York City will no longer be able to use disposable foam meals. Offenders will be subject to high fines. It is worth noting that the use of foam plastics in meat storage, express packaging and other industries is temporarily unaffected.
Costa Rica
On July 15th, Carlos Alvarado, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Minister of Environment and Energy, and Daniel Salas, Minister of Health, jointly signed the Law on Integrated Waste Disposal at the National Cultural Center. The executive order of the amendment announced that the use of polyethylene foam was banned nationwide.
On October 31st, the bill regulating the use of plastic products in the market passed the second round of discussions in the legislative assembly of Colombia. After the president signed, the use of plastic straws will be banned in Costa Rica, and retail establishments will not be able to provide plastic bags to consumers.
Canada
On November 27th, the Vancouver City Council voted to ban plastic straws from April 2020 and ban plastic bags from New Year's Day in 2021.
Australia
new Zealand
On July 1st, the New Zealand plastic ban was officially implemented. Various retail establishments are prohibited from using and providing disposable plastic bags to customers. Violators may face fines of $ 100,000 in serious cases.
Conclusion
With the intensification of plastic pollution, more and more countries are aware of the importance of "plastic ban", and countries may start "plastic ban" legislation or continue to expand the scope of the ban. In the "plastic ban" action in full swing, the "plastic ban" regulations in 2019 are just an episode, and the upcoming 2020 may become a year when many plastic bans are in place.
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