plastic bags

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    Coronavirus Worsens Thailand’s Plastic Waste Crisis

    Coronavirus Worsens Thailand’s Plastic Waste Crisis

    By Tanika Godbole Southeast Asia is one of the biggest sources of plastic waste from land to the ocean, and Thailand is among the top five contributors. In January, Thailand placed a ban on single-use plastic, and was looking to reduce its plastic waste by 30% this year. But the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting […]

    Coronavirus Plastic Waste Polluting the Environment

    Coronavirus Plastic Waste Polluting the Environment

    By Nikolia Apostolou Over a month into the lockdown and the usually bustling streets of Kalamata, a Greek city southwest of Athens traditionally known for its olives, are largely empty. As in the rest of Greece, residents of the coastal city are allowed out only in strict circumstances, including for short exercise and grocery shopping. […]

    Plastic Bag Bans Put on Hold Amid Coronavirus Fears

    Plastic Bag Bans Put on Hold Amid Coronavirus Fears

    A number of states and cities that implemented bans on plastic bags are putting them on hold over concerns about the cleanliness of reusable bags amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the Massachusetts Food Administration asked Governor Charlie Baker to rescind bans on plastic bags in several towns over concerns that handling the reusable bags […]

    New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Begins

    New York’s Plastic Bag Ban Begins

    Nearly one year after New York became the second state in the nation to pass a ban on grocery store plastic bags — the law is going into effect on Sunday. In accordance with the budge bill passed last year, New York State retailers will be banned from doling out single-use plastic bags, starting on […]

    Thailand Begins the New Year With Plastic Bag Ban

    Thailand Begins the New Year With Plastic Bag Ban

    Thailand rang in 2020 with an effort to tackle the plastic crisis filling the country’s waste sites and choking its waterways. The country’s ban on plastic bags at major retailers began as soon as the clock struck midnight in Bangkok. A complete ban of bags that includes smaller shops will go into effect in 2021, […]

    Study Finds Microplastics Stunt Earthworms’ Growth and Could Harm Soil Ecosystems

    Study Finds Microplastics Stunt Earthworms’ Growth and Could Harm Soil Ecosystems

    The ocean isn’t the only ecosystem threatened by microplastics. A first-of-its-kind study published Wednesday in Environmental Science and Technology found that particles from the kind of plastic commonly used in bags and bottles stunt the growth of earthworms, a finding with major implications for soil health, The Independent reported. Check out our latest paper on […]

    India Set to Ban 6 Single-Use Plastics on Gandhi’s Birthday

    India Set to Ban 6 Single-Use Plastics on Gandhi’s Birthday

    The government of India is set to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups and straws on October 2, officials announced, in its most sweeping measure yet to eradicate single-use plastics from cities and villages that have ranked among the world’s most polluted. The ban will be comprehensive and will cover manufacturing, usage, and […]