WELLINGTON – New Zealand has become the world’s first country to expand its ban on plastic bags in supermarkets to thin bags, which are typically used to hold fruits or vegetables.
The move, which took effect on Saturday, is part of a wider government campaign against single-use plastics.
Most shoppers already bring their own bags to stores after take-home plastic bags were banned in 2019.
In recent years, many countries have imposed a fee or ban on plastic bags.
“New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste,” Associate Environment Minister Rachel Brooking said.
She added more than one billion plastic bags had been saved since the ban on thicker bags took effect in 2019.
The new move is expected to prevent the usage of 150 million plastic bags per year. (BBC)
