| Retail Bags Report - List of Retail
Bag Policies - Asia |
Highlights
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Bangladesh |
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• The country of Bangladesh banned plastic bags in March of 2002.
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Dhaka |
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Dhaka, Bangladesh banned plastic bags in January
of 2002. |
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Bhutan |
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• The country of Bhutan banned plastic bags in June of 2005. They did this to help reduce litter and thus raise the national happiness quotient. |
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China |
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• In January 2008, the country of China imposed a ban on specific plastic bags and also imposed a minimum thickness rule.
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Hong Kong |
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In Hong Kong, China a tax or charge is levied on plastic bags. |
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India |
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• In 2002, the Indian government mandated a
thickness rule on plastic bags. All bags must be greater than 20
microns in thickness. This rule was implemented to reduce malaria
outbreaks, aid in storm water runoff management also to prevent the sacred cows of India from
inadvertently ingesting plastic bags. [updated
02-05-09]
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Delhi |
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In January 2009, the city of Delhi, India announced a ban on the use, storage and sale of all plastic bags. There are heavy fines for violators while citizens and visitors are encouraged to use alternative material bags such as jute, cotton, recycled-paper and compostable bags. [added
02-05-09] |
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Maharashtra |
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In June 2005, the government in the state of Maharashtra enacted a plastic bag ban. This was done in response to localized flooding that was caused by plastic bags clogging waterways. [added
02-05-09] |
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Mumbai |
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As of January 2010 the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has begun pilot programs to ban plastic bags in Mumbai and will be proposing an amendment in the State Government to ban all plastic bags, not just those that are below 50 microns in thickness. [added
03-11-10] |
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Israel |
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• In June 2008, the Israeli government enacted a tax or charge upon plastic bags. |
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Maldives |
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Baa Atoll |
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In 2009, Baa Atoll initiated “Say no to plastic bags”, a campaign that distributes cloth bags to all residents. [added
07-27-09] |
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Philippines |
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• In 2008, bill 4134 was introduced to House legislature that would place an excise tax on non-biodegradable plastic bags. All money generated from the tax would be used to support government initiated environmental protection programs. This bill was referred to committees and is pending there as of June 2009. [updated
12-01-09]
• In 2007 SB1443 was introduced to the Senate that would have created the Plastic Bag Recycling Act. This bill was left pending in committee. [added 12-01-09] |
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Taiwan |
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• In Taiwan, a plastic bag ban and tax or charge was enacted in January 2003. |
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United Arab Emirates |
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• The United Arab Emirates have voted to ban plastic bags by the end of 2012/beginning of 2013. The emirates plan to utilize education campaigns to help the public prepare for the transition. Some of the emirates are acting earlier – Ajman has banned the production of non-biodegradable bags within the emirate starting June 1, 2010. [added 01-22-10] |
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Information about retail bag regulation activities is changing constantly. We welcome your input. If you have additional sources, or updates to
current information on this website, please email
Jill.R.Scarborough@dep.state.fl.us. |
Last updated:
March 11, 2010
Division of Waste Management #850-245-8705 MS #4500
2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
Question or Comments? Email:
Jill.R.Scarborough@dep.state.fl.us.
