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In the Pacific Northwest, a ban on single-use plastic bags is slated to take effect on Friday local time.
And indeed, the Washington Legislature passed the statewide ban during last year's legislative session.
Although its implementation was delayed due to the pandemic, the law was slightly modulated, with a view to prodding customers into bringing and using their own bags when shopping.
Let's take a look.
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Single-use plastic bags have long been notorious for ensnaring the necks of sea animals, particularly crustaceans and fishes.
In light of this, Washington State has taken a proactive and eclectic approach to promoting the use of recycled bags, such as tote bags.
A new and strict ban on single-use plastic bags takes effect on Friday in that state.
According to local media, the use of certain carryout bags will still be permitted, such as large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags. Not only will the aforementioned types of bags cost customers an 8-cent fee, they must also be made with a certain amount of recyclable materials, as stipulated by the new and modulated policy. Green or brown compostable bags are also allowed for use when shopping.
With a view to entreating customers to bring and reuse their own bags when shopping, the plastic bag ban applies to all retail, grocery and convenience stores. Also subject to the ban are restaurants, temporary stores, or events where foods or goods are sold.
There are exceptions though. Consumer bulk items, produce, frozen food, prescription drugs and bakery items are among those exempt from the plastic bag ban.
The plastic bag ban also does not apply to food banks and customers purchasing items by way of a food assistance programme.
Despite the possibility that the ban may have a pernicious effect on the income of companies which manufacture or sell plastic bags, the Department of Ecology is adamant, for the sake of the environment, there is an urgent need to impose such a ban.
A $250 USD fine will be meted out for those who are repeatedly found on the wrong side of the law. What's more, any person, starting from October 1st, can report a business which violates that plastic bag ban.
In reality, Washingtonians do have some leeway. Thick plastic bags containing a minimum of 20 percent post-consumer recycled content can still be used till July 1, 2022. But thereafter they will have to switch to using paper bags that are made of 40 percent recycled content.
These may be considered the minutiae.
But environmentalists earlier shed light on the use of single-use plastic bags worldwide. It was discovered that, each year, some 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That's nearly two million plastic bags used per minute. The operative word is "per-minute", which makes the data truly jaw-dropping.
It is truism that there are no silver bullets whatsoever that could prevent climate change worsening. With the effects of climate change now front and centre, we, as a whole, have to take great pains to fight it before it's declared irreversible. And adapting to a new life without plastic bags may be worth its weight in gold.
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