In Australia, 6 billion HDDP bags were used in 2002. [3] Use increased to $5.6 billion in 2004[4] and $3.9 billion in 2007. [3] Germany imposes a tax on excess packaging over its Green Dot programme, which also included plastic bags. [273] In addition, all stores in Germany that offer plastic bags must pay a recycling tax. [274] England was the last country in the United Kingdom to accept the 5 pence tax,[226] with the tax coming into force on 5 October 2015. [288] Prior to the introduction of plastic bag regulations, several retailers participated in voluntary actions to reduce the consumption of plastic bags. [289] The legally binding framework for reducing plastic waste means that countries must monitor and track thousands of plastic wastes outside their borders. In 2007, Uganda introduced a law prohibiting the sale of lightweight plastic bags less than 30 metres thick and anti-tax bags with a penalty rate of 120%. Although the laws came into force in September of this year,[220] they were not enforced and failed to measurably reduce the use of plastic bags. [246] The law is not well enforced.
[247] Plastic bags were banned in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland on 1 March 2005, after a 120-day grace period given to the public by the government to dispose of their stockpiles. The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced the cabinet`s decision in a decree entitled “Prohibition of the import, production and use of plastic bags in the country.” The bags were nicknamed “Hargeysa Flower” because many of them were blown and stuck in trees and shrubs, which posed a danger to livestock, because the animals that feed on the leaves often accidentally ingest the bags. In 2015, the ban was reiterated by Presidential Decree No. #JSL/M/XERM/249-3178/042015, which in turn provides an additional 120 days to dispose of stocks. In 2016, to ensure the implementation of the ban, the government set up enforcement teams to conduct special training that launch probes in the states of affairs. At least 1,000 men and women in uniform are deployed in major markets and shopping centres. The government has announced fines against offenders who continue to sell plastic bags in the country. [192] [193] [194] [195] [196] Even if they are properly disposed of, it takes many years for them to decompose and decompose, which, over long periods, takes large amounts of years. Poorly cleared bags polluted waterways, clogged sewers and found in the oceans, harming the ecosystem of marine organisms. [3] The UN estimates that by 2050, there will be more plastics than fish in the oceans if countries do not take urgent action to promote efficient production, use and management of plastics beyond their life cycles. [8] Prior to the national ban, similar rules existed at the regional level. In 2017, some 80 municipalities have already restricted the distribution of plastic bags, while some coastal and maritime areas have completely banned plastic bags.
[355] The Philippines is the third largest marine polluter in the world, although a waste management law came into force 18 years ago. Corruption, lack of political will – and dissemination and access to single-use plastic products are the main challenges in regulating plastics. [260] In 2009, the governor of Buenos Aires province, Daniel Scioli, passed Law 13868,[346] which stipulated that by the end of the year, all non-biodegradable plastic bags should be dumped for the benefit of degradable materials. [347] [348] The Moldovan parliament passed a law banning plastic bags.