Page 68 - Plastics News July 2023

IN THE NEWS

New Zealand’s Ban on All Single-Use Produce Bags Is a World First

he ban will eliminate 150 million sale, and distribution of single-use gle-use plastic bags — either impos-
Tplastic produce bags from circula- plates, bowls, and cutlery, and stores ing fees on their use or banning them
tion each year, according to the New will only be allowed to offer single-use from stores. New Zealand is the first
Zealand government. plastic straws to people with disabili- to extend a nationwide ban on plastic
ties or health needs. produce bags.
New Zealand has become the first
country in the world to ban single-use “Plastic is an ever-present part of Through the United Nations Environ-
produce bags at grocery stores. our lives. But it is often not disposed ment Assembly, representatives from
of correctly and ends up in the envi- 175 nations are working through the
New Zealand shoppers already were
expected to bring their own shopping ronment, breaking down into micro- end of 2024 to forge an international
bags to supermarkets. Effective July plastic pollution,” said James Palmer, plan to end plastic pollution. As of July
1, they also are being asked to carry New Zealand’s Chief Executive at the 2021, 77 countries have passed some
their own reusable bags for fruits and Ministry for the Environment. “This is sort of full or partial ban on plastic
vegetables. The latest move is part of a growing problem in our freshwater bags. Another 32 countries — mostly
a wider government campaign against and marine environments.” in Europe — have opted instead to
single-use plastics. Palmer said he expects that the new charge a fee or tax to limit plastic bag
ban will eliminate 150 million plastic use, according to Statista.com, a pro-
In July 2019, New Zealand no longer vider of market and consumer data.
allowed stores to provide single-use produce bags — or 17,000 plastic
shopping bags with handles that are bags every hour — from circulation As of February 2021, eight US states
made of plastic up to 70 microns in each year. — California, Connecticut, Delaware,
thickness. This latest measure takes Shaun Lewis, New Zealand’s Director Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon,
plastic waste-reduction efforts a step of Waste Stream Policy at the Minis- and Vermont — had passed laws that
further by banning recyclable, biode- try for the Environment, said: “The prohibited stores from providing sin-
gradable, or plant-based plastic. In- plastic products the government is gle-use plastic shopping bags.
stead, customers are encouraged to phasing out are often used only once After banning single-use plastic check-
bring their own mesh, paper, or can- before becoming waste or litter. They out bags from stores in 2016, Califor-
vas bags for their produce. are challenging to recycle, impact the nia will be the first state in the nation
effectiveness of our recycling system, to outlaw plastic produce bags. The
The produce bag ban isn't the only
new plastic restriction that went into and endanger our marine life.” ban will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
effect in New Zealand on July 1. The Other countries worldwide have
country also banned the manufacture, been slowly moving away from sin-

68 PLASTICS NEWS July 2023