Ban on using plastic bags delayed until June 1

It was initially scheduled for January 1. It was then postponed to March 28. Finally, it will be from July 1 when the decree on the prohibition of plastic bags single use.

Decided within the framework of the law on transition Energy efficiency Promulgated in August, the ban on single-use plastic bags has been analyzed by the European Commission and the Council of State, to specify the type of bags affected in relation to European regulations.

Finally it will be plastic bags with a thickness of less than 50 micrometers, regardless of their volume, and that are free or paid, which will be prohibited in the boxes of the shops as of July 1, 2016. As of January 1, 2017 they will also be rejected and prohibited all single-use plastic bags and packaging, including those provided for packing fruits and vegetables, or cheese. The consumers they will have to use reusable bags, with more than 50 micrometers, or paper bags.

Despite the entry into force of the enforcement decree, many large stores have already stopped using single-use plastic bags. According to the Federation of Commerce and Distribution Companies, the number of bags distributed by brands would have increased from 10,5 billion to 700 million a year since the signing of a agreement Voluntary in 2003. Many businesses require customers to pay 3-5 cents to entice them to bring their own recyclable bags.

In 2010, the number of plastic bags abandoned in the wild per year at the European level was 8000 million. Typically less than 20 minutes are used, between distribution in the store and unpacking of purchases at home. However, a bag takes between 100 and 400 years to degrade.

This second life is particularly dangerous for the fauna marina. Turtles, mammals, and birds can ingest them and drown. According to a study published in 2015, 700 marine species would have crossed the path of plastic waste in the water, and 10% of these individuals would have ingested it.