4 ms·

This is not true. Here in the UK (EU, for now) single-use plastic bags are still depressingly common. A levy of 5p per bag was introduced a couple of years ba

This is not true. Here in the UK (EU, for now) single-use plastic bags are still depressingly common. A levy of 5p per bag was introduced a couple of years back, but nothing that even remotely resembles a proper ban.

danmaz74 9y ago
I stand corrected, how to curb their usage is left to the member states They're banned here in Italy (and in France), I thought the ban was EU wide. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/themes/waste/breaking-bag-habits_en https://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/themes/waste/breaking-b...
- JPLeRouzic 9y ago
  I do not know if plastic bags are banned in France, I can use any amount of PLA bags that I want for free and if I pay one euro per bag, I can buy as many plastic bags that I want. In France often what the law says and what is reported in media differs widely. It is absolutely out of context but the best example was the 35 hours per week laws that authorised up to 56 hours per week for some kind of workers.
  - danmaz74 9y ago
    PLA bags aren't bad for the environment; they will decompose quickly. Having 1 euro for durable plastic ones looks more than enough to di discourage their use (even if it's not an actual ban).
    - Steve44 9y ago
      PLA will only decompose quickly in an industrial composting facility. If it gets into the ocean it will decompose at about the same rate as regular plastics.
      - danmaz74 9y ago
        I checked, and in Italy the actual material is this one: http://materbi.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/12/Scheda-biodegradazione-marina_EN_MR.pdf http://materbi.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/12/Sch... I would be curious how this compares to PLA. If you have any idea about that, let me know.
        Steve44 9y ago
        That's quite an interesting looking one, I've not directly heard of it before but as it's been around for a few years is quite possibly used in some products. It looks to be a PLA base with some other additives, presumably to aid the breakdown. Thanks for the info, I'll look into it more.
        danmaz74 9y ago
        You're welcome. It's quite used here in Italy, I have no idea if it has the merits they talk about.

danmaz74 9y ago

I stand corrected, how to curb their usage is left to the member states They're banned here in Italy (and in France), I thought the ban was EU wide. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/themes/waste/breaking-bag-habits_en https://ec.europa.eu/environment/efe/themes/waste/breaking-b...

JPLeRouzic 9y ago
I do not know if plastic bags are banned in France, I can use any amount of PLA bags that I want for free and if I pay one euro per bag, I can buy as many plastic bags that I want. In France often what the law says and what is reported in media differs widely. It is absolutely out of context but the best example was the 35 hours per week laws that authorised up to 56 hours per week for some kind of workers.
- danmaz74 9y ago
  PLA bags aren't bad for the environment; they will decompose quickly. Having 1 euro for durable plastic ones looks more than enough to di discourage their use (even if it's not an actual ban).
  - Steve44 9y ago
    PLA will only decompose quickly in an industrial composting facility. If it gets into the ocean it will decompose at about the same rate as regular plastics.
    - danmaz74 9y ago
      I checked, and in Italy the actual material is this one: http://materbi.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/12/Scheda-biodegradazione-marina_EN_MR.pdf http://materbi.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/12/Sch... I would be curious how this compares to PLA. If you have any idea about that, let me know.
      - Steve44 9y ago
        That's quite an interesting looking one, I've not directly heard of it before but as it's been around for a few years is quite possibly used in some products. It looks to be a PLA base with some other additives, presumably to aid the breakdown. Thanks for the info, I'll look into it more.
        danmaz74 9y ago
        You're welcome. It's quite used here in Italy, I have no idea if it has the merits they talk about.