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man holding plastic bag

Should we ban plastic bags?

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30th Aug 2017
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It may sound like an April Fools' Day joke but Kenya has just banned plastic bags.

After a decade or more of wrangling, the government there has followed the precedent of its neighbours South Africa, Rwanda and Eritrea by taking this major step to protect the environment. What isn't clear from news reports is how people in Nairobi will take their shopping home in future.

Apparently, anyone caught using a plastic bag, let alone manufacturing or supplying them, could face up to four years in prison or a fine probably equates to several years’ pay for the average worker.

This means that in Kenya, you could probably take your shopping home in an environmentally unfriendly car and knock down a couple of children along the way, while suffering a lesser penalty than the maximum for taking it home in a recycled M&S bag.

Kenyan accountants might also suffer, since their advertising opportunities will diminish when staff and clients are unable to carry around one of those stylish plastic bag so much favoured by larger firms in this country.

However, there is a far more serious side to the story. On the day that this ban hit the British news headlines (okay on about page 7), Houston and much of Texas was under several feet of water following the worst storms in years. Indeed, it is predicted that the city could face one year’s worth of rain in less than a week.

Some of us sit in dread of what President Trump has to tweet about this in the context of global warming and climate change, which he denies exist.

I fear for the residents of Houston, if by any chance the man with the bad wig turns up to offer sympathy but then suggests that climate change had nothing to do with this unprecedented disaster. Some might even be tempted to exercise their inalienable rights under the US constitution with its liberal gun laws to use their mighty arsenals in an attempt to set him right.

Slightly more seriously, if Kenya can ban plastic bags then why shouldn’t the UK follow suit? Charging 5p has certainly had an effect on the numbers being used but a complete ban would definitely be a big plus for the environment. It might even be fun to discover sensible alternatives such as reusable recycled bags for life or even stylish designer equivalents featuring ballistic nylon and leather, which might become de rigueur for well-to-do accountants and could prove fantastic marketing tools.

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FT
By FirstTab
30th Aug 2017 13:44

A subject close to my heart. We should adopt Kenya's policy. 5p charge is not going far enough.

http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html

As regards to driving, there need to be further measures brought to make cycling safer to encourage more people to use the bicycle as a mode of transport.

I sold my car over a year ago. I have not looked back. Being in London, it is easier for me. I think congestion charge zone should be widened making the car only to be used when really needed.

Trump - The fact he is in power proves masses are [***]. He has a short shelf life. It is shocking he is the President of USA. Mexico will pay for the wall!

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