Brussels has banned single-use plastic bags

Brussels has banned single-use plastic bags

The Belgian capital of Brussels, followed by the Walloon region, decided to abandon the use of disposable plastic bags. From September 1, their distribution in all outlets of the city prohibited, according to the TV channel RTBF.

Owners of commercial networks are allowed to distribute up to 30 Nov the packages purchased before September 1.

The ban does not apply to reusable plastic bags with thickness more than 50 µm (microns).

Measure decided to introduce to reduce environmental pollution, given the fact that the average plastic bag to decompose in nature 450 years.

In Wallonia bans on plastic bags introduced with effect from 1 December 2016.

The ban of plastic bags at the end of August 2017 was made by the Kenyan authorities. This country has introduced criminal penalties for the manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags. Violators face up to four years in prison or a fine of up to $40 thousand Businessmen were given a few months to adapt business to new conditions.

More than 40 countries, including China, France, Rwanda and Italy have already banned plastic bags entirely or partly, notes The New York Times.

According to the UN programme for the protection of the environment, in the oceans discarded annually up to 8 million tons of plastic. By 2050, plastic in the oceans will be more than the fish. This can cause irreparable damage to fisheries and tourism.

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