Page 25 - Plastics News April 2020

Amid Corona virus fears 'Plastics' comes to rescue

With the COVID-19 national lockdown Plastic bags are US Plastic Bag Bans Put on Hold
making a comeback for Plastics enhance health and
World over plastic ban is put on hold A number of states
wellness; improve access to safe, nutritious foods; and
reduce environmental impacts and cities that implemented bans on plastic bags are
putting them on hold over concerns about the
With grocery stores being one of the few places still open cleanliness of reusable bags amidst the COVID-19
during COVID-19 lockdowns, disposable plastic bags are pandemic. The Massachusetts Food Administration asked
making a comeback as some people fear that reusable Governor Charlie Baker to rescind bans on plastic bags in
bags could spread the disease. Before the pandemic, a several towns over concerns that handling the reusable
growing number of governments banned single-use bags poses a threat to grocery store workers. While some
plastic bags in an effort to cut down on waste. But as the viruses are known to survive in reusable shopping bags
novel coronavirus has spread around the globe, people for up to nine days, there is no evidence so far that the
have gotten leery about coming in close contact with novel coronavirus does, according to Patch.
other people and their possessions, including reusable Massachusetts' neighbors seem to be following a similar
bags. For whatever reason, people seem to get very fired trajectory. New York State, which implemented its
up about grocery bags. For whatever reason, people plastic bag ban on March 1, has decided to hold off
seem to get very fired up about grocery bags. With the enforcement until at least May 15, according to the
national lockdown Plastic bag has once again stood the state's Department of Conservation (DEC). Despite the
test of time and has come to rescue, be it for grocery or delay in enforcement, New York State still encourages
the daily needs. shoppers to use reusable bags when shopping for their
essentials.
DEC continues to encourage New Yorkers to transition to
reusable bags whenever and wherever they shop and to
use common sense precautions to keep their reusable
bags clean," said Erica Ringewald, spokeswoman for
DEC, as the Brooklyn Eagle reported. "New York's ban on
single-use plastic bags went into effect as planned on
March 1. Retailers across the state are complying."

"Folks, if you are concerned about the cleanliness of
your reusable bag, please consider washing it — as you
wash clothes or hands. It's good hygiene anyway,"
tweeted DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, as the New
York Post reported. "New Yorkers are pleased with the
The government has allowed foodgrains to be packaged bag ban and have no interest in a return to polluting
in bags made of (HDPE/PP) polymer material due to ways."
closure of jute mills during the ongoing lockdown. The New Hampshire went in another direction. Out of an
COVID-19 related lockdown has affected the working in abundance of caution, the governor issued an
the jute mills thereby disrupting the production of jute emergency order banning reusable bags, requiring
bags. Textiles ministry said the move is aimed to protect stores to use plastic or paper instead, according to the
the interest of the wheat farmers as the grains are likely
to ready for packing mid-April onwards. Boston Herald. "Our grocery store workers are on the
front lines of COVID-19, working around the clock to
However, the ministry stated that whenever the keep New Hampshire families fed," said Gov. Chris
production of jute bags in jute mills resumes after the Sununu in a statement. "With identified community
lock down period is over, priority will be given to the jute transmission, it is important that shoppers keep their
bags for packaging of food grains. “The ministry of reusable bags at home given the potential risk to
textiles has given dilution to the maximum permissible baggers, grocers and customers."
limit i.e. 1.80 lakh bales on March 26 and further for 0.82
lakh bales on April 6 for HDPE/PP bags to tide over the In Maine, the state's ban on plastic bags was scheduled
emergent crisis of packaging of food grains. The scenario to go into effect on Earth Day, April 22. However, the
is no different across the globe as many of the countries novel coronavirus forced lawmakers to reconsider
world over puts ban on hold. their plans. Last week, Gov. Janet Mills announced

APRIL 2020 22 Plastics News