November 17, 2020
The facts on Styrofoam: reduce and reuse
Take special care to properly dispose of all plastic, a leading source of litter
On this page we will zero in on runaway plastics that leave people's hands or vehicles and litter the surroundings. Things like bags, bottles, wrappers, cups, packing material - when you litter this stuff, it's a real problem for a long time. When not littered, plastic can be fantastic!
Scientists are most concerned about micro-plastics, concentrations of which are found in everyday products like soaps and cosmetics.
Scientists are most concerned about micro-plastics, concentrations of which are found in everyday products like soaps and cosmetics.
EU APPROVES PLAN TO SHRINK PLASTIC BAG USE
Of the 100 billion grocery bags Europeans use in a year, eight billion of them end up in the ocean every year
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(April 17, 2014) An overwhelming majority of EU parliamentarians support a massive curtailment.
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Big news out of Europe . . . plastic the target of EU's massive reduction plan
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(March 11, 2014) EU states would have to reduce the consumption of most common and polluting plastic bags by 80% by 2019, under draft rules backed by the Environment Committee on 10 March. To this end, MEPs recommend using economic instruments such as taxes and levies, marketing restrictions or bans. Plastic carrier bag litter is a major environmental concern, known to affect water bodies and aquatic eco-systems in particular.
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Portland considers shopping bag fee: 10¢ (January 16, 2014)
It would apply to grocery and convenience stores, and seeks to reduce waste and litter. But critics see drawbacks.
It would apply to grocery and convenience stores, and seeks to reduce waste and litter. But critics see drawbacks.
European Commission applauds Denmark's plastic bag reduction efforts (December 14, 2013)
"According to EU figures, there are now some 250 billion plastic particles with a combined weight of 500 tonnes floating about in the Mediterranean Sea alone. These particles can suffocate sea creatures that ingest them accidentally or mistake them for food. Plastics break into tiny particles, and have a high potential for contaminating soil and waterways as they may contain additives such as persistent organic pollutants."
"According to EU figures, there are now some 250 billion plastic particles with a combined weight of 500 tonnes floating about in the Mediterranean Sea alone. These particles can suffocate sea creatures that ingest them accidentally or mistake them for food. Plastics break into tiny particles, and have a high potential for contaminating soil and waterways as they may contain additives such as persistent organic pollutants."
Queensland Government waffles on plastic shopping bag ban worried about voter backlash (July 12, 2013)
Los Angeles plastic ban America's biggest: Associated Press (June 27, 2013)
(AP) — Los Angeles became the biggest city in the US to ban free plastic bags in grocery stores following a city council vote Tuesday. The 9-1 vote supports a ban that will take effect on Jan. 1 for large stores, City News Service reported. Under the law, shoppers will have to tote their own bags, or pay 10 cents each for paper bags. About $2 million a year is spent to clean up plastic bag litter in Los Angeles. Sanitation authorities estimate more than 228,000 bags are distributed in the city every hour. The city plans to hand out 1 million reusable bags in low-income areas.
(AP) — Los Angeles became the biggest city in the US to ban free plastic bags in grocery stores following a city council vote Tuesday. The 9-1 vote supports a ban that will take effect on Jan. 1 for large stores, City News Service reported. Under the law, shoppers will have to tote their own bags, or pay 10 cents each for paper bags. About $2 million a year is spent to clean up plastic bag litter in Los Angeles. Sanitation authorities estimate more than 228,000 bags are distributed in the city every hour. The city plans to hand out 1 million reusable bags in low-income areas.
City in Vietnam endeavors to curb use of plastic bags (June 24, 2013)
Nine million bags dispensed each day, but curbing use is proving to be a headache for the authorities. Littered plastic bags are choking the Ba Tieng, Ba Luu Canals in Binh Tan District and Binh Thai, Nho and Cau Mieu Canals in Thu Duc District, officials say.
Nine million bags dispensed each day, but curbing use is proving to be a headache for the authorities. Littered plastic bags are choking the Ba Tieng, Ba Luu Canals in Binh Tan District and Binh Thai, Nho and Cau Mieu Canals in Thu Duc District, officials say.
Los Angeles City Council okays ban on plastic bags (June 18, 2013)
An estimated 2 billion plastic grocery and carry out bags are distributed in the city each year. A second vote later in June is expected to confirm LA as the 77th jurisdiction in California to implement a bag ban, effective 2014, the LA Times reports.
An estimated 2 billion plastic grocery and carry out bags are distributed in the city each year. A second vote later in June is expected to confirm LA as the 77th jurisdiction in California to implement a bag ban, effective 2014, the LA Times reports.
Real issue driving bag bans is litter (June 3, 2013)
California plastic ocean debris bill dies in committee (May 25, 2013)
Legislators balked at passing a law forcing producers to be responsible for the littering habits of consumers.
Legislators balked at passing a law forcing producers to be responsible for the littering habits of consumers.
Desert plastic litter fells wild camels in UAE "Death Valley" (April 11, 2013)
Ingesting the rubbish left by visitors to the desert, particularly plastic bags, can kill the animals in what one of country's leading veterinarians has dubbed "fatal pollution". In the United Arab Emirates, "this kind of pollution has reached epidemic proportions," his report says.
Ingesting the rubbish left by visitors to the desert, particularly plastic bags, can kill the animals in what one of country's leading veterinarians has dubbed "fatal pollution". In the United Arab Emirates, "this kind of pollution has reached epidemic proportions," his report says.
England 'left behind' in plastic bag tax introduction (April 10, 2013)
Bristol-based project to develop doc about marine plastic waste (February 17, 2013)
IKEA, Whole Foods ditch plastic bags for good in California (February 12, 2013)
American study links plastic bag ban with increase in food-related deaths: Australians still favour ban (February 8, 2013)
An important lesson on how to use reusable cloth shopping bags
An important lesson on how to use reusable cloth shopping bags
South Tahoe council refuses to ban plastic bags (January 23, 2013)
An estimated 60 cities and 8 counties in California have instituted bag bans, but this city will not be following suit.
An estimated 60 cities and 8 counties in California have instituted bag bans, but this city will not be following suit.
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Below, Australian website, plasticwastesolutions.com
Phys.Org has online science articles about plastic and bottles
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High stakes courtroom drama in South Carolina: Reusable cloth bag versus plastic bag
The case was settled in 2011, but ramifications from this nasty battle linger after the two sides clashed over the plastic bag issue.
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ChicoBag v Hilex
In battle of the bags, suit settlement reached (From philly.com/greenliving, Sept. 13, 2011) • Both parties will provide citations and dates for all facts and statistics on any web page or advertising, excluding labels and hangtags. • Hilex Poly agrees that to the extent permitted by customers and in the normal rotation of plate replacement, it will include a statement on its products: “Tie Bag in Knot Before Disposal”. (This is to lessen the chance of the bags becoming wind-blown litter after disposal.) • Hilex will include statements on a website that discuss ways to prevent windblown litter. • ChicoBag will stop any countdown list for Hilex to dismiss the litigation. • ChicoBag had already made updates to its website in response to Hilex Poly’s early communications, and will keep these in place. {ChicoBag agrees not to site any archived EPA websites, link to the full NOAA report if utilized in advertising, will inform visitors to chicobag.com that reusable bags should be washed when dirty, and will inform visitors to its Learn the Facts page that plastic retail carryout bags are only a subset of plastic bags in ocean debris reports.} |
Hilex Poly fights back against plastic bag taxes and bans
Corporation updates its site to try to win support from consumers California's ChicoBag takes a cheeky approach to wooing fans
Gets its news out with human Bag Monsters and bagmonsters.com Bag maker sued by giant American plastics industry recycler
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