http://www.letsdoitworld.org/news/anneli-ohvril-enough-plastic-bags-let-s-start-growing-weed

Anneli Ohvril: Enough of plastic bags, let?s start growing weed!

Submitted by Meelika on Mon, 31/03/2014 - 9:30pm

By Anneli Ohvril, Let's Do It! World Cleanup 2014 marketing team
Edited by Meelika Hirmo, Head of Public Relations of Let's Do It! World
Cleanup 2014

At the end of 2013, the European Commission proposed reducing the usage
of thin plastic bags in the European union. It is up to member states to
decide the scope of actions regarding this. What are we doing in order
to reduce the usage of plastic bags? Do we say that everything is fine
with us and the necessary measures have already been taken?

Even selling plastic bags instead of distributing them for free is
considered a measure towards reducing their usage. Several governments
have forbidden the free distribution of plastic bags as a first step. In
Washington, the consumption of plastic bags reduced from 22,5 to 3
million after establishing a 5-cent fee. We have seen this effect in
other countries as well ? the money factor really works. Not everywhere
though. A lot of plastic bags are still distributed for free in many
countries, and in Estonian supermarkets a bag costs 10 cents on average.
This price has not restricted people from buying another plastic bag
every time when going shopping. An average Estonian consumes 466 plastic
bags per year which is a lot more than the average European.