ROME, Italy — [Editor's note: A previous version of this story's headline incorrectly said Italy's ban was the world's first nationwide ban. It is the first such ban in Europe.]
The only plastic bags that will be available in Italy will soon be biodegradable versions, since a ban on plastic bags went into place Jan. 1.
Stores in Italy, which uses 20 billion bags a year (one-fifth of all European use), will be able to give out their remaining plastic bags, but once they're gone, they can only offer paper, biodegradable plastic or cloth bags.
Of the more than 8,000 municipalities in Italy, around 200 already has plastic bag bans.
News reports from European outlets are rife with concern that the country won't be able to handle such a sudden change, and they also worry the biodegradable and paper alternatives will be an annoyance if they are seen as weaker than plastic bags.
Reports the Guardian:
"We are not prepared to face such a cultural change," says Florence lawyer Giampaolo Pagnini. "We should take it slowly, because we do not have the cultural background to know how to deal with this. It took us ages to adapt to wearing a seatbelt when that law came into effect." Antonella d'Antoni, who works for a bank in Rome, echoes the sentiment: "This is the same, it will take time."
In banning plastic bags, Italy joins the ranks of other countries and cities like Mexico City, San Francisco and other various cities in California, and elsewhere in the U.S. like Westport, Conn. and Edmonds, Wash.
Others, like China, have found success in plastic bag fees. Earlier this year, Washington, D.C., saw plastic bag use drop by 85 percent one month after a five-cent fee for bags went into effect. Ireland saw a similar cut in plastic bag use after a fee imposed in 2002.
After implementing a 5 pence fee for plastic bags in early 2008, U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer was giving out 80 percent fewer bags after a few months.
IKEA weaned customers off of plastic bags by charging for them, and then eliminated them entirely from stores the same year that Whole Foods Market dumped plastic bags as well.
Plastic bags - CC license by Flickr user Dan4th
For a country such as Italy
For a country such as Italy with a vast coast and extensive tourism, the primary issue with plastic bags is marine litter and the way the "urban tumbleweeds" impair the beautiful scenery. Resource use is an issue when considering a switch to paper or biodegradable, but any good ban will come with a disincentive to use these bags too. For example, a new Los Angeles County law bans the use of plastic bags but also requires retailers to charge 10 cents per paper bag use. The overall affect is an increased use of reusable bags and significant drop of all single use bags.
Many Canadians have been
Many Canadians have been using reusable bags for 5-10 years. We've kept them in our car and at the front door always, it just becomes a simple habit. For kitchen garbage you can simply buy biodegradeable kitchen bags at the same grocery store where you shop with your resuable bags. Come on, these things are so simple to do, resistance is just selfish. Then why not take your your reusable bags and head to a farmers market and buy your family real food without packaging and chemicals... be good to our planet and our health. I applaud Italy and any country who makes the change part of their culture.
where do people put their
where do people put their garbage now?
What are biodegradeable
What are biodegradeable plasticbags?
I use all my plastic bags for my kitchen trash can.
Can these other bags serve in that capacity?
If not, Why is it not enough to just charge for the bags and let people like me who want to keep using them, keep using them? I will buy them anyway, one way or another.
I don't get it. Ireland
I don't get it. Ireland banned these bags in 2002. Wales and Scotland studied the results of this ban.
Wales and Scotland abandoned the idea after research carried out for the Cabinet Office concluded that a ban would not help reduce overall carbon emissions.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_headline=plastic-bag-ban...
"The fact is that plastic bags are manufactured from two by-products of the oil refining process - naphtha and ethylene.
"About 50 years ago polythene was discovered by accident when the two by-products had an electric current passed through them.
"If naphtha and ethylene were not used to produce plastic bags, they would have to be flared off at oil refineries, contributing further to climate change. For as long as people use oil, these by-products will be created and it is responsible to make them into plastic bags."
...
A study suggested that while a ban might result in 3,000 tonnes less going to landfill, there would be an additional 13,500 tonnes of paper bags going instead.
-----
Sorry folks, I'd rather have 3,000 tons of naphtha and ethylene in the landfill instead of 13500 tons of paper in the landfill and 3,000 tons of n and e in the air.
This seems more of a
This seems more of a political move than a useful environmental recovery tactic. There are much better ways to improve the world than banning plastic bags.
My question is, where do
My question is, where do people put their garbage now? Most people I know who stopped using plastic bags now buy small garbage plastic bags for the trash. Am I the only one who finds this ridiculous?
None of my grocery plastic bags go to waste, they are all used for kitchen or bathroom trash bin. Or do we no longer use plastic for garbage bags? What's the deal?
ban is good but it should be
ban is good but it should be in stages
Shouldn't the title be
Shouldn't the title be "continent-wide?" There's no more a country of Europe than there is a country of Africa... and why aren't more nations looking at this in addition to bans or fees for plastic bags:
Teen Decomposes Plastic Bag in Three Months at Science Fair
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/05/teen-decomposes/
You can't have a
You can't have a "continent-wide" ban in a single country, that is, Italy. It means, Europe's first plastic bag ban in an entire country.
No, the title is correct
No, the title is correct because it is a whole nation that is banning plastic bags, not a whole continent. If it had said "continent wide" it would imply that the entire continent of Europe is banning plastic bags, which isn't true.
Let's just cut down more
Let's just cut down more trees then.
All the world; not just Italy
All the world; not just Italy should ban plastic bags altogether!
Beermatman
http://www.beermatsadvertising.com
stupid
stupid
I thank any country that has
I thank any country that has the forsight to do what we won't. We are so whipped by industry here. At least in other countries they haven't lost their ability to fight big industry like we have. If you don't think it's a good idea take a cruise to hawaii and see for yourself where all the plastic ends up. It's horrifying.
Here here! Very good point.
Here here! Very good point.
2002: Bangladesh bans
2002: Bangladesh bans light-weight bags.
2003: South Africa bans plastic bags. Taiwan bans light-weight bags.
2005: Eritrea, Rwanda, Somalia ban plastic bags.
2006: Tanzania and Zanzibar ban plastic bags.
2007: Kenya, Uganda ban plastic bags.
How does Italy become the 1st country?
Europe. First in Europe,
Europe. First in Europe, dude.
It should not be Italy that
It should not be Italy that enforces this rule!! It should be a rule with everyone! No more plastic bags! I will do this from now on
NOT THE FIRST IN THE WORLD!
NOT THE FIRST IN THE WORLD! At least half a dozen countries have banned plastic bags nationwide.
Why are people so anxious to
Why are people so anxious to do things that will cost them money and accomplish nothing? Is suffering a necessary part of environmentalism, or the whole point? Why cut out filmy, weightless bags when everything is made in third-world countries with no environmental laws and delivered in thick, heavy plastic packaging to people who drive their SUVs ten miles to the store? Why can't we do something real instead of these stupid, meaningless gestures designed to take attention away from real solutions?
Seriously? Your argument for
Seriously? Your argument for not immediately complying with this new act is that it's too hard and that, because you were too dumb to figure out how to wear seatbelts, you're going to be too dumb to figure this out too? Niiiiice
I would disagree with the
I would disagree with the claim of Italy being the 1st country to ban plastic bag nationwide. I know that Bangladesh banned the use of plastic bag almost 10 years ago. Few other third world countries might have done the same thing about the same time.
Cheers!
Germany is ugly. Berlin was
Germany is ugly. Berlin was even uglier. Environmentalism started in Italy in the 14th century. Ever hear of St Francis of Assisi.
Dude, Gtfo... Italy sucks.
Dude, Gtfo... Italy sucks.
NO YOU SUCK
NO YOU SUCK
You suck.
You suck.
No, you suck!
No, you suck!
NO.....ALL HUMAN BEINGS SUCK
NO.....ALL HUMAN BEINGS SUCK BECAUSE WE ARE SCREWING THE ENVIRONMENT!!
NO... ALL SCREWING SUCKS
NO... ALL SCREWING SUCKS HUMAN BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT BEINGS
Big cultural change? We've
Big cultural change? We've used cloth bags in Germany for many years. Spend 10-20 Euros to buy yourself enough bags, have a few in your car when you go shopping, or, if you don't have a car, you can also buy other versions that roll up and have a button on them to prevent them from unfolding. They are synthetic as well, can be cleaned in case of spills, and don't take up much room or weight.
This is a case where the benefit greatly outweighs the concern and cultural change. I applaud Italy, which is otherwhise not known for their environmentalism in the EU.