In a move to check pollution, the European Parliament (EP) has voted in favour of limiting the use of thin plastic bags in Europe.
As per the new law, EU citizens will have to reduce their annual average consumption of non-biodegradable plastic bags to 90 lightweight bags per citizen by the end of 2019 and to 40 by the end of 2025.
The law will be applicable for plastic bags thinner than 0.05mm.
Being the most commonly used plastic bags in the EU, their lightweight nature make them less reusable than the thicker bags, thus becoming waste. These plastic bags are also known to pollute water bodies and aquatic eco-systems, according to the EP.
As per the law, member states will also need to make sure that by 2018 shoppers will no longer have access to light plastic bags.
Around eight billion plastic carrier bags were said to have became litter in the EU in 2010. The EP said that in 2010, every EU citizen used up to 198 plastic bags annually, out of which 90% were thin bags.
The legislation was given a push by Danish MEP, Margrete Auken who said it was a major step towards the protection of environment.
"This legislation will create a genuine win-win situation. We're talking about an immense environmental problem. Billions of plastic bags end up directly in nature as untreated waste. It damages nature, harms fish, birds, and we have to get to grips with this," said Auken.
Once the bill is implemented, Auken added that the European Commission will be able to save close to €740m annually.
Image: The move comes in an attempt to decrease the pollution caused by the use of thin plastic bags. Photo: courtesy of winnond/freedigitalphotos.net.
