The War on Plastic Bags

The U.K. introduced a controversial 5-pence ($0.08) tax Oct. 5 on every plastic bag, joining other places where lawmakers have tried to curb the use of the nonbiodegradable polyethylene bags:

DENMARK

Introduced a tax as long ago as 1994 to encourage stores to charge for plastic bags. By 2014, Denmark had the lowest plastic-bag use in Europe, with each resident using an average of just four a year.

BANGLADESH

Became the first country to ban plastic bags completely in 2002 after some of the 9 million bags discarded daily were found to have blocked sewers, causing deadly floods.

RWANDA

In 2008 instituted a ban so strict that officials confiscate plastic bags at airport customs and issue $150 fines to people caught using them. Smugglers selling bags on the black market risk fines of over $400.

CALIFORNIA

Was due to introduce the U.S.’s first state-wide ban on plastic bags in July, but opponents in the plastics industry secured enough signatures to put the ban on the ballot in November 2016.

–Naina Bajekal