Plastic Bags Usage Europe

Half of the plastic collected for recycling is exported to be treated in countries outside the eu.

Plastic bags usage europe.

They must also ensure all. In 1994 denmark was the first country to begin charging a tax on them. The european parliament has voted for a complete ban on a range of single use plastics across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans. In europe energy recovery is the most used way to dispose of plastic waste followed by landfill.

Averaging just 4 bags per person per year. Some 30 of all the generated plastic waste is collected for recycling and recycling rates by country vary a lot as shown in the infographic. In ireland a 22c plastic bag tax has reduced usage by as much as 90. Under the eu members must reduce their average plastic bag consumption from 200 bags per person in 2015 to 90 bags per person in 2019 and 40 bags per person by 2025.

And since imposing a tax in 2003 denmark has seen the lowest plastic usage in europe. Meps backed a ban on plastic cutlery and plates. Kroger and safeway supermarket chains adopted the use of plastic bags in 1982 with other chain stores soon following suit. Portugal has seen a drop in excess of 85.

Plastic bags were later introduced in the us with companies marketing the new product as superior to ordinarily paper bags.