Chile becomes first Latin America country to ban commercial use of plastic bags

Chile becomes first Latin America country to ban commercial use of plastic bags

Chile has joined a growing number of countries to ban the commercial use of plastic bags.

It became the first country in Latin America to enact the new law on Friday.

"I want to share with you the joy that as of today we're enacting the law," said President Sebastian Pinera at a public ceremony in Santiago.

He later handed out cloth bags to passers-by.

It comes after Mumbai became the largest Indian city to ban single-use plastics in June.

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Residents in the Indian city caught using plastic bags, cups or bottle could face penalties of up to 25,000 rupees (£250) and three months in jail.

Image: A seagull covered by a plastic bag at Caleta Portales beach in Valparaiso, Chile

In Chile, large businesses have six months to phase out the use of plastic bags.

Smaller ones will be given two years to adapt to the new rules.

It means that any form of plastic bag other than those constituting primary packaging "necessary for hygiene or to prevent food wastage" are prohibited.

Those who disobey the new law will be subject to a 370 peso (44p) fine in a country where $800 (96p) is the minimum wage.

"Without a doubt we're taking a giant step towards a cleaner Chile," added Mr Pinera.

Companies will be limited to handing out a maximum of two plastic bags per transaction in the meantime.

Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Australia and the UK are some of the other countries to ban plastic bags.

From August last year, anyone in Kenya found using, producing, or selling plastic bags could face four years in jail.

:: Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com </s> SANTIAGO: Chile made history on Friday when it became the first country in Latin America to ban the commercial use of plastic bags. “I want to share with you the joy that as of today we’re enacting the law,” said President Sebastian Pinera at a public ceremony in the centre of Santiago, after which he handed out cloth bags to passers-by. Large businesses have six months to phase out the use of plastic bags, while smaller ones will be given two years to adapt to the new rules. It means that any form of plastic bag other than those constituting primary packaging “necessary for hygiene or to prevent food wastage” are prohibited, the government gazette Diario Oficial said on Friday. </s> SANTIAGO: Chile made history on Friday when it became the first country in Latin America to ban the commercial use of plastic bags.

"I want to share with you the joy that as of today we´re enacting the law," said President Sebastian Pinera at a public ceremony in the centre of Santiago, after which he handed out cloth bags to passers-by.

Large businesses have six months to phase out the use of plastic bags, while smaller ones will be given two years to adapt to the new rules.

It means that any form of plastic bag other than those constituting primary packaging "necessary for hygiene or to prevent food wastage" are prohibited, the government gazette Diario Oficial said on Friday.

Those flouting the ban will be subject to a $370 fine, in a country where the minimum wage is just $800.

In the meantime, companies will be limited to handing out a maximum of two plastic bags per transaction. </s> Chile has become the first South American country to legally ban the widespread commercial use of plastic bags.

The new legislation, approved by Congress and enacted by President Sebastián Piñera, gives small shops two years to adapt to a total ban.

Larger business will have six months to stop using plastic bags.

In the meantime they will only be allowed to hand out two carrier bags per customer.

Businesses that break the rules will face a $370 (£280).
• The breath-taking alien world of plastic bags under the sea

Scientists say plastic pollution has a devastating impact on marine wildlife and affects the health of humans.

Mr Piñera said the new rules were a great step for a cleaner Chile.

"We want to go from a throwaway culture, where everything is used and chucked away, to the healthy culture of recycling," he said.

"There are 7.6 billion inhabitants in the world. We can't continue polluting as if each one of us owned the Earth."

He handed out reusable cloth bags at a ceremony marking the ban on Friday.

The legislation was proposed by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, who banned the use of plastic bags in Chile's Patagonia region.

Several other countries have also been taking steps to combat plastic pollution.

In January, Panama approved legislation curbing the commercial use of plastic bags.

Businesses there were given up to 24 months to phase out the use of plastic carrier bags.

In Britain, a 5p compulsory charge per bag was introduced in 2015. </s> SANTIAGO – Chile has become the first South American country to legally ban the widespread commercial use of plastic bags.

“I want to share with you the joy that as of today we’re enacting the law,” said President Sebastian Pinera at a public ceremony in the centre of Santiago on Friday, after which he handed out cloth bags to passers-by.

Any form of plastic bags other than those constituting primary packaging “necessary for hygiene or to prevent food wastage” is prohibited.

Large businesses have six months to phase out the use of plastic bags, while smaller ones will be given two years to adapt to the new rules.

Those flouting the ban will be subject to a $370 fine, in a country where the minimum wage is just $800.

In the meantime the shops will only be allowed to hand out two carrier bags per customer.

“Without a doubt we’re taking a giant step towards a cleaner Chile,” added Pinera. “We want to go from a throwaway culture, where everything is used and chucked away, to the healthy culture of recycling.

“There are 7.6billion inhabitants in the world. We can’t continue polluting as if each one of us owned the Earth.”

The legislation was proposed by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, who banned the use of plastic bags in Chile’s Patagonia region.

According to data provided by the Association of Plastic Manufacturers (Asiplas in Spanish), it takes a minute to produce one plastic bag, which has, on average, a fifteen-to-thirty-minute lifespan. Nonetheless, each bag takes approximately 400 years to degrade.

Chile uses more than 3.4 billon plastic bags a year, which translates to almost 200 bags per person annually.

Several other countries have also been taking steps to combat plastic pollution.

In January, Panama approved legislation curbing the commercial use of plastic bags. Businesses there were given up to 24 months to phase out the use of plastic carrier bags.

In England, a 5p compulsory charge per bag was introduced in 2015.

Some states and cities of the U.S. and Canada have similar measures in place, but those initiatives have not become national policies yet. Costa Rica, on the other hand, intends to ban single-use plastics by 2021. </s> , Santiago, Chile, Aug 3 – Chile made history on Friday when it became the first country in South America to ban the commercial use of plastic bags.

“I want to share with you the joy that as of today we’re enacting the law,” said President Sebastian Pinera at a public ceremony in the centre of Santiago, after which he handed out cloth bags to passers-by.

Large businesses have six months to phase out the use of plastic bags, while smaller ones will be given two years to adopt the new rules.

It means that any form of plastic bag other than those constituting primary packaging “necessary for hygiene or to prevent food wastage” are prohibited, the government gazette Diario Oficial said on Friday.

Those flouting the ban will be subject to a $370 fine, in a country where the minimum wage is just $800.

In the meantime, companies will be limited to handing out a maximum of two plastic bags per transaction.

The law was passed on June 1 but appealed by the Association of Industrial Plastics, whose objections were rejected by the constitutional court.

Chile has been one of the countries leading the way in Latin America against the use of plastic bags.

In 2014 the government of Michelle Bachelet banned them in Chilean Patagonia and last year extended that to coastal areas.

Chile’s problem has reached epic proportions with 3.2 billion plastic bags used every year — some 200 per person, according to the government.

“A plastic bag takes seconds to make, is used for less than half an hour between the supermarket and the home, and then takes 400 years to biodegrade,” said Pinera.

Some 90 percent of them end up in landfill sites or the sea, where they can be swallowed by birds or fish.

The toxic impact of these polyethylene bags on oceans was highlighted recently in Thailand by the death of a whale that had swallowed more than 80 plastic bags.

“We cannot continue like this,” said Pinera, adding that “nature is suffering the effect of plastic bags.”

On top of that, only four percent of Chile’s 17.5 million people recycle.

“What we want to do is very simple: we want to change Chileans’ way of life,” said Pinera.

Latin America and the Caribbean are particularly vulnerable to this environmental disaster as the region enjoys one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world.

According to the UN, it has 16 million square kilometers (6.1 million square miles) of sea comprising almost a quarter of the world’s fish population.

The Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda were the first country in the region to ban plastic bags in 2016. That same year Colombia prohibited the use of small bags before also placing a tax on the use of bigger ones a year later.

Ecuador has moved to restrict the use of plastic bags, straws and bottles around the biosphere reserve of the Galapagos Islands, which are a World Heritage Site.

Panama was the first country in Central America to announce a complete ban on plastic bags in January, but it has given businesses up to two years to comply to the new directives.

The three biggest cities in Latin America have also taken action, with Mexico City banning the distribution of free bags in 2009. Sao Paulo followed suit in 2015 while Buenos Aires went a step further in January 2017, putting a stop to supermarkets either using or selling such bags.

Public and government awareness about the environmental impact of plastics has been increasing. Last year the United Nations passed a resolution, albeit non-binding, to prevent plastics from entering the oceans. </s> New Zealand is joining a growing number of countries banning single-use plastic shopping bags.

"The ban should ensure less plastic ends up in rivers, streams, stormwater systems and the ocean so seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals are less vulnerable to being harmed by it," Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said in a statement on Sunday.

The new regulations that come into force on Monday apply to any type of plastic less than 70 microns in thickness, that's new or un-used, has carry handles and is provided for carrying sold goods.

It also includes bags that are made from bio-based materials like starch, and made of plastics that are degradable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable.

Mainstream supermarkets have already switched from single-use plastic shopping bags since Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the legislation last August.

More than 100 jurisdictions, including Belgium, France, Italy, China have already implemented an outright ban on single-use plastic bags, while others have introduced a levy or charge. </s> Prince Edward Island has become the first province to introduce a ban on single-use plastic bags.

The Plastic Bag Reduction Act officially came into effect on Canada Day and prohibits businesses from providing single-use plastic bags at checkout. They are instead to offer paper bags or higher quality reusable bags.

The province says these other bags are more durable and result in less waste.

There are exceptions to the regulation, however. Businesses will be allowed to provide plastic bags for a variety of products, including bulk produce, live fish, prescription drugs and dry cleaning, among others.

Businesses in P.E.I. will also be allowed to use up the stock of plastic bags they already have.

According to the Retail Council in Canada, 48 communities across Canada either have a plastic bag ban or have committed to introducing one in the near future, but P.E.I. has the only province-wide ban.

Jordan Keenanof the Plastics Oceans Foundation Canada told CTV News Channel a lot of these bans are proving to be difficult to enforce.

“I live in Montreal (and) we’ve had a plastic bag ban here for a while, yet you can still get plastic bags, pretty much everywhere,” he said.

Victoria, B.C. introduced a single-use plastic bag ban a year ago and on Monday increased the prices of grocery bags to 25 cents for a paper bag and $2 for a reusable bag. The city said the increase is meant to reduce the demand for the recyclable bags while helping businesses recoup some of the costs of transitioning to this policy.

Last month, the Trudeau government announced its intention to ban single-use plastics across the country by 2021, including plastic bags, water bottles and straws. </s> New Zealand officially banned single-use plastic shopping bags Monday, introducing hefty fines for businesses that continue to provide them

Wellington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 1st Jul, 2019 ) :New Zealand officially banned single-use plastic shopping bags Monday, introducing hefty fines for businesses that continue to provide them.

Plastic pollution has become a growing global concern, with a million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals injured or killed every year by becoming entangled in packaging or ingesting it through the food chain.

Companies that break New Zealand's ban will face heavy penalties, including fines of up to NZ$100,000 ($67,000).

"New Zealanders are proud of our country's clean, green reputation and want to help ensure we live up to it," environment minister Eugenie Sage said.

"Ending the use of single-use plastic shopping bags helps do that." Under the new rules, thin plastic single-use shopping bags can no longer be supplied -- but the law allows reusable carriers to continue being provided.

The legislation -- which was announced in August last year and came into force on Monday -- will have little practical effect, as New Zealand's major supermarkets have already voluntarily banned the bags.

However, Sage said it was putting the issue of recycling on the agenda.

"(The ban) doesn't go far enough, but what is really great is it's started the conversation," she told Radio New Zealand.

"People are now talking about single-use plastics and how we can phase them out." Britain's Royal Statistical Society estimates 90.5 percent of all plastic waste -- some 6,300 million metric tons -- has never been recycled and is either in landfill or accumulating in the natural environment.

If current production and waste management trends continue, the ocean of plastic waste is estimated to almost double to 12,000 million metric tons by 2050.

More than 80 countries have already introduced bag bans similar to New Zealand's, according to the UN Environment Programme.

While it praised such initiatives, it said more needed to be done to minimise other sources of plastic waste including microbeads and single-use items such as straws.

Canada last month announced plans to ban disposable plastic items such as straws, cutlery and stir sticks from 2021.

The Pacific nation of Vanuatu will implement a ban in December on disposable diapers, which not only have non-biodegradable plastic linings but also use chemical absorbents which leach into the environment.

Sage said the New Zealand government was committing NZ$40 million ($27 million) to find ways to reuse plastic waste instead of sending it to landfill overseas.

"We have been sending our waste offshore for too long," she said.

"China and other countries refusing to take our waste is the wake-up call we need."The issue of wealthy developed nations using poorer countries as trash dumps was highlighted this week when Canada had to accept back tonnes of rubbish it shipped to the Philippines years ago.

For years, China received the bulk of scrap plastic from around the world, but closed its doors to foreign refuse last year in an effort to clean up its environment.
Chile becomes the first Latin American country to ban the commercial use of single-use plastic bags.