Phase-out of lightweight plastic bags facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Plastic bags have been a common sight in stores for a long time. They are usually given for free to help people carry their shopping. These bags are often made from a type of plastic called low-density polyethylene (LDPE). While they seem handy and cheap, they cause many problems for our planet. Because of this, many countries around the world are now trying to stop using them. They want to encourage people to use reusable shopping bags instead.

Governments everywhere are taking action. Some have completely banned lightweight plastic bags. Others charge a small fee for each bag, or they tax the stores that sell them. Bangladesh was the first country to ban these bags in 2002. By 2022, 94 countries had bans, and 32 countries had bag charges. Many cities and regions also have their own rules.

Why are plastic bags a problem?
- How do plastic bags affect the air?
- How do plastic bags harm animals?
What are the solutions?
- Can we recycle plastic bags?
What has been the impact?
What are the challenges?
Laws around the world
See also

Why are plastic bags a problem?

Lots of plastic waste at a garbage dump in the Philippines.

Plastic bags cause many issues for our environment. One big problem is the huge amount of waste they create. Many plastic bags end up on streets. From there, they can blow into rivers, streams, and other water sources, polluting them.

Even when thrown away properly, plastic bags take many years to break down. This means they create a lot of garbage that stays around for a very long time. Bags that are not thrown away correctly can block waterways and sewers. They also end up in oceans, harming the homes of sea animals. Experts believe that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans if we don't act fast.

How do plastic bags affect the air?

Plastic bags also add to global warming. When they are left in the sun, they release harmful greenhouse gases. These gases include methane and ethylene. Because lightweight plastic breaks down easily, it releases these gases faster. This makes the problem of greenhouse gases worse over time.

How do plastic bags harm animals?

A plastic bag breaking down next to a hiking trail.

Plastic bags directly hurt wildlife in two main ways: animals get tangled in them or eat them. Animals can get caught in bags and drown. Many animals also mistake plastic bags for food and eat them. When this happens, the bags block their stomachs, and the animals can starve to death.

Plastic bags can also block drains, trap birds, and kill farm animals. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says that over 100,000 whales, seals, and turtles die each year from plastic bags. In India, about 20 cows die every day because they eat plastic bags. In Africa, clogged sewers from plastic bags lead to more mosquitoes, causing more malaria. In China, people call this problem "white pollution" because of all the white plastic bags littering the environment.

Plastic bags can also blow into trees and plants. They break down into tiny pieces, but they don't truly disappear. Instead, they release toxic chemicals into the environment. These chemicals can harm the bodies of living things. A plastic bag can last for about 20 years.

Plastic bags dumped in the Pacific Ocean can end up in the Great Pacific garbage patch. Most of this plastic waste comes from land. Sea animals can eat these plastics, which then block their breathing and digestive systems. Plastic bags also wash up on beaches all over the world.

What are the solutions?

The two most common ways to stop using lightweight plastic bags are by charging for them or banning them completely. Charging for bags can reduce their use and also create money for environmental projects. It also lets people choose if they want to pay for a bag.

Can we recycle plastic bags?

Recycling plastic bags is another idea, but it has problems. Only about 5% of plastic bags actually make it to recycling centers. Even then, they can blow away from bins or trucks and become litter. Also, different types of plastic bags can look the same but need to be recycled differently. If mixed, they can cause problems. For example, plastic bags can jam recycling machines, which costs a lot of money to fix. In San Jose, California, repairs cost about $1 million each year.

People can also talk to their local leaders and stores. As more people choose eco-friendly travel, there are more chances to say no to plastic bags.

What has been the impact?

Studies show that charging for plastic bags really works. A small tax of five cents on bags reduced their use by 40%. In countries like Ireland and the UK, charges led to a 74% to 90% drop in bag use.

A study in California found that banning plastic bags removed 40 million pounds of plastic. However, people then bought 12 million pounds more of trash bags. This happened because many people used to reuse their shopping bags as trash bags. So, while fewer shopping bags were used, more other plastic bags were bought.

What are the challenges?

Banning plastic bags can sometimes lead to problems. For example, some people might start selling plastic bags illegally. Also, making other types of bags, like paper or thicker plastic bags, can sometimes create more greenhouse gases than the lightweight plastic bags they replace. This means that overall, the amount of greenhouse gases might not go down.

Bans can also cause a big increase in sales of trash bags. People who used to reuse their shopping bags for things like dog waste or bin liners still need bags. So, they buy more trash bags, which are often thicker and use more plastic.

Laws around the world

Summary of laws

Plastic bag laws around the world (laws passed but not yet in effect are not shown on map) Plastic bags banned A charge on some plastic bags Voluntary charge agreement Partial charge or ban (municipal or regional levels)

Country	United Nations Regional Group	Legislation	Notes	References
Afghanistan	Asia-Pacific	Ban
Albania	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2018.
Andorra	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2017.
Antigua and Barbuda	Latin America	Ban
Argentina	Latin America	Regional ban	Banned in several provinces and cities.
Armenia	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2022.
Australia	Western Europe and Others	Regional ban	Lightweight plastic bags banned in all states and territories (except New South Wales, where a ban comes into effect from 1 June 2022). Lightweight plastic bags have been replaced by reusable thick 15¢ bags in the two major supermarket chains in all states and territories, including New South Wales. Norfolk Island has a voluntary agreement with retailers.
Austria	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2020.
Azerbaijan	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2021.
Bahamas	Latin America	Ban	Since 1 July 2020.
Bahrain	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 21 July 2019.
Bangladesh	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2002.
Barbados	Latin America	Ban	Since April 2019.
Belarus	Eastern Europe		Charge is being considered.
Belgium	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2016 in Wallonia, 2017 in Brussels, 2019 in Flanders.
Belize	Latin America	Ban	Since 22 April 2019 (Earth Day).
Benin	Africa	Ban	Since November 2017.
Bhutan	Asia-Pacific	Ban
Bolivia	South America	Regional ban	Banned in La Paz.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Eastern Europe	Charge
Botswana	Africa	Ban	Since November 2018.
Brazil	Latin America	Regional ban	Banned in Sao Paulo and the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Brunei	Asia-Pacific	Voluntary charge
Bulgaria	Eastern Europe	Charge
Burkina Faso	Africa	Ban	Since 2015.
Burundi	Africa	Ban	Since 22 August 2019.
Cambodia	Asia-Pacific	Charge	Since October 2017.
Cameroon	Africa	Ban	Since April 2014.
Canada	Western Europe and Others	Regional ban	Banned in three provinces. Charge in Northwest Territories. Bans in several municipalities. Full ban planned for 2022.	See section
Cape Verde	Africa	Ban	Since 2017.
Central African Republic	Africa	Ban	Since 2021.
Chad	Africa	Regional ban	Banned in N'Djamena.
Chile	Latin America	Ban	Since February 2019.
People's Republic of China	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2022. Charge applied since June 2008. Replaced by ban, excluding fresh produce markets until 2025. Hong Kong and Macau apply a charge.
Republic of China (Taiwan)	Asia-Pacific	Charge	Since 2003. Ban planned for 2030.
Colombia	Latin America	Ban	Since July 2017. Charge applied to reusable bags.
Comoros	Africa	Ban	Since April 2018.
Costa Rica	Latin America	Ban	Since 2021.
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Africa	Ban	Since 2018.
Republic of the Congo	Africa	Ban	Since 2011.
Croatia	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2022.
Cyprus	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Since 2018.
Czech Republic	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 2018
Denmark	Western Europe and Others	Charge	A tax on plastic bags since 1993. There is also a tax in Greenland.
Djibouti	Africa	Ban
Dominica	North America	Ban	Since 2019.
East Timor	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 23 February 2021.
Ecuador	Latin America	Charge	Since 9 May 2020. Banned in the Galápagos Islands.
Egypt	Africa	Regional ban	Banned in Red Sea Governorate.
Eritrea	Africa	Ban	Since 2005.
Estonia	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since July 2017.
Ethiopia	Africa	Regional ban
Fiji	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2020.
Finland	Western Europe and Others	Voluntary charge
France	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since July 2016. Also banned in Overseas France.
Gabon	Africa	Ban	Since 2010.
Gambia	Africa	Ban	Since 2015.
Georgia	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2017.
Germany	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2022.
Greece	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Since 2018.
Grenada	Latin America	Ban	Since February 2019.
Guatemala	Latin America	Ban	Since 2021.
Guinea-Bissau	Africa	Ban	Since 2016.
Guyana	Latin America	Ban	Since 2021.
Haiti	Latin America	Ban
Honduras	Latin America	Regional ban	Banned in the Bay Islands Department.
Hungary	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 2012.
Iceland	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2021.
India	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2002. Also banned at regional levels due to poor enforcement.
Indonesia	Asia-Pacific	Regional bans and charges	Charges in 23 cities. Banned in Bali since June 2019 and Jakarta since July 2020.
Ireland	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Since March 2002, a 0.15 Euro tax has been added to all plastic bags. Since these charges were added, there has been a 90% reduction in the use of plastic bags.
Israel	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Since January 2017.
Italy	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since January 2011.
Ivory Coast	Africa	Ban	Since 2014.
Jamaica	Latin America	Ban	Since January 2019.
Japan	Asia-Pacific	Charge	Since July 2020.
Kazakhstan	Asia-Pacific		Ban is being considered.
Kenya	Africa	Ban	Since 28 August 2017.
Kiribati	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since October 2020.
Kyrgyzstan	Asia-Pacific		Ban is being considered.
Latvia	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since January 2019.
Lebanon	Asia-Pacific	Regional ban	Banned in Byblos.
Lithuania	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 31 December 2018.
Luxembourg	Western Europe and Others	Charge
Madagascar	Africa	Ban	Since 2015.
Malawi	Africa		Bans revoked several times.
Malaysia	Asia-Pacific	Regional charge	Charges in two states.
Maldives	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since June 2021.
Mali	Africa	Ban
Malta	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2022.
Marshall Islands	Asia-Pacific	Ban
Mauritania	Africa	Ban	Since 2013.
Mauritius	Africa	Ban	Since 2016.
Mexico	Latin America	Regional ban	Banned in 18 states and Mexico City.
Micronesia	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 31 December 2020.
Republic of Moldova	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2021.
Monaco	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2016.
Mongolia	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since March 2019.
Montenegro	Eastern Europe		Ban has been proposed.
Morocco	Africa	Ban	Since July 2016.
Mozambique	Africa	Charge	Since 5 February 2016.
Myanmar	Asia-Pacific	Regional ban	Banned in Yangon.
Namibia	Africa	Regional ban	Banned in protected places. Levy approved but not implemented.
Nauru	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 23 April 2021.
Nepal	Asia-Pacific	Ban
Netherlands	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Since 2016. Banned in Aruba, Sint Maarten and Caribbean Netherlands.
New Zealand	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since July 2019. Also banned in Niue. Ban planned in the Cook Islands.
Niger	Africa	Ban
Nigeria	Africa	Ban
North Macedonia	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 2009.
Norway	Western Europe and Others	Voluntary charge
Oman	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2021.
Pakistan	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Banned independently in each of the country's provinces and territories from 1994 to 2019.
Palau	Asia-Pacific	Ban
Panama	Latin America	Ban	Since 20 July 2019.
Papua New Guinea	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2016.
Peru	Latin America	Charge	Since August 2019.
Philippines	Asia-Pacific	Regional ban and charges	Banned in select cities of Metro Manila, excluding Taguig, Malabon, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Navotas, San Juan, and Parañaque.
Poland	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 2018.
Portugal	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Since 2016.
Romania	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 2019.
Russian Federation	Eastern Europe		Ban planned for 2024.
Rwanda	Africa	Ban	Since 2008.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Latin America	Ban	Since August 2020.
Samoa	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2019.
San Marino	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 1 June 2021.
Sao Tome and Principe	Africa		Ban planned.
Senegal	Africa	Ban	Since April 2015.
Serbia	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 2018. Banned in Belgrade.
Seychelles	Africa	Ban	Since 2017.
Slovakia	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since March 2017.
Slovenia	Eastern Europe	Charge	Since 2019.
Solomon Islands	Asia-Pacific	Regional ban	Banned in Western Province.
Somalia	Africa	Regional ban	Banned in Somaliland.
South Africa	Africa	Charge	Since 2004.
Republic of Korea	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since August 2018.
South Sudan	Africa	Ban
Spain	Western Europe And Others	Charge	Since July 2018. Banned in Balearic Islands since 2020.
Sri Lanka	Asia	Ban	Since 2017.
Sudan	Africa	Regional ban	Banned in Khartoum State.
Sweden	Western Europe and Others	Charge
Switzerland	Western Europe and Others	Voluntary charge	Banned in Geneva since 2020. Voluntary charge elsewhere.
Tanzania, United Republic of	Africa	Ban	Since June 2019.
Thailand	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 2021.
Togo	Africa	Ban	Since July 2018.
Tunisia	Africa	Ban	Since March 2017.
Turkey	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Also a ban in some regions. Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus also applies a charge.
Tuvalu	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since August 2019.
Uganda	Africa	Ban	Since September 2007.
Ukraine	Eastern Europe	Ban	Since 10 December 2021.
United Arab Emirates	Asia-Pacific		Ban planned in Abu Dhabi for 2021.
United Kingdom	Western Europe and Others	Charge	Wales since 2011, Northern Ireland since 2013, Scotland since 2014 and England since 2015. Banned in Alderney, Anguilla, Gibraltar and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Voluntary charge in place in the Falkland Islands. Ban planned in British Indian Ocean Territory, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Charge in Saint Helena.
United States	Western Europe and Others	Regional bans and charges	Banned in nine states (one de facto) and five territories. Charges in Washington, D.C. Ban to go in effect for New Jersey in May 2022 and Colorado in 2024. Bans and charges in several municipalities.	See main article
Uruguay	South America	Ban	Since July 2019.
Uzbekistan	Asia-Pacific	Charge	Since 2019.
Vanuatu	Asia-Pacific	Ban	Since 31 January 2018.
Vatican City	Western Europe and Others	Ban	Since 2019.
Yemen	Asia-Pacific	Ban
Zambia	Africa		Ban announced but not implemented.
Zimbabwe	Africa	Ban

Africa's efforts to reduce plastic bags

Plastic waste in Karey Gorou, Niger

Many African countries are working to reduce plastic bag waste.

Kenya: Kenya tried to ban plastic bags in 2007 and 2011. These attempts failed because businesses worried about costs. But in 2017, a new ban was put in place. It is very strict, with high fines or even prison time for breaking the rules. In 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta banned single-use plastics in national parks and other natural areas.
Nigeria: In May 2019, Nigeria's government banned the making, importing, and using of plastic bags.
Somalia: The region of Somaliland banned plastic bags in 2005. They were called "the Hargeysa flower" because they got stuck in trees. This ban was repeated in 2015, and teams were sent out to make sure stores followed the rules.
South Africa: South Africa didn't ban plastic bags, but they added a tax on them in 2004. This tax is paid by the companies that make the bags. Even with the tax, people still use billions of plastic bags each year.
Tanzania: Zanzibar banned plastic bags in 2005. Tanzania then put a country-wide ban in place in June 2019.
Tunisia: Tunisia banned plastic bag distribution in supermarkets in March 2017. This was the first step in a plan to reduce plastic bag use.
Uganda:

A pile of trash, including plastic bags, in Kampala, Uganda.

Uganda banned thin plastic bags and taxed thicker ones in 2007. However, these laws have not been strongly enforced, so plastic bag use hasn't gone down much.

Asia's fight against plastic bags

Many Asian countries are also taking steps to reduce plastic bag pollution.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh banned plastic bags in 2002. This happened after floods between 1988 and 1998 were made worse by plastic bags blocking drains. Plastic bags still cause problems for their sewer systems.
Cambodia: Cambodia started taxing plastic bags in October 2017. Supermarkets now charge about 10 US cents per bag.
China: China banned very thin plastic bags and added a fee for other plastic bags in 2008. This was to help with sewer problems and general waste. One survey showed plastic bag use dropped by 60-80% in supermarkets. However, smaller stores and street vendors often don't follow the rules. In China, the term "white pollution" describes the problem of white plastic bags and containers littering the environment.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong charges 50 cents for plastic bags. After this rule started in 2015, plastic bag use dropped by 90%.
India:

A sign in Kasaragod, Kerala, India, saying that plastic bags thinner than 30 µm are not allowed.

India banned plastic bags thinner than 20 µm in 2002. This was to stop them from clogging drains and to prevent cows from eating them. However, it's been hard to make sure everyone follows the rule. Many states and cities in India have also made their own rules to ban or limit plastic bags.

Indonesia: Since 2016, stores in 23 cities in Indonesia have charged for plastic bags. The money from these charges helps fund waste management. The island of Bali banned single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam in 2019. Other major cities have also banned single-use plastic bags.
Israel: Since 2017, large stores in Israel must charge about 10 Israeli new shekels for each plastic bag with handles. The money goes to public waste management. After the law, the number of plastic bags used dropped by 80%.
Philippines: The Philippines is one of the biggest ocean polluters. Many cities in Metro Manila have banned plastic bags. However, some cities have not, partly because of plastics manufacturing companies there. In 2019, a senator proposed a bill to ban single-use plastic products across the country.
Taiwan: Taiwan banned free plastic bags in 2003. Stores like department stores and fast-food restaurants could no longer give them away for free. Taiwan plans to completely ban single-use plastic bags by 2030.

Europe's approach to plastic bags

European countries are also working together to reduce plastic bag use.

European Union: In 2015, the European Union passed a rule to reduce plastic bag use by 50% by 2017 and 80% by 2019. Each country can choose how to do this.
Denmark: Denmark introduced a tax on plastic bags in 2003. This made stores charge for bags and encouraged people to use reusable ones. This saved about 66% of plastic and paper bags. By 2014, Denmark used the fewest plastic bags in Europe, only 4 bags per person per year.
Germany: Germany will ban all single-use plastic, including shopping bags, starting in 2022.
Ireland: Ireland added a 15-cent tax on plastic bags in 2002. This led to 90% of people using long-life bags within a year. The tax was increased to 22 cents in 2007. The money goes into an Environment Fund for environmental projects.
United Kingdom: The UK has been working to reduce plastic bags since 2008. In May 2021, the charge for single-use plastic bags doubled from 5p to 10p.

* Wales: Wales started charging 5 pence for almost all single-use bags in 2011. This includes paper and biodegradable bags. The money goes to charities. Bag use dropped by 96%. * Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland introduced a 5 pence charge in 2013. The money goes to environmental projects. Single-use bag use fell by 72%. * Scotland: Scotland started a 5 pence charge in 2014. Retailers can use the money as they wish, but are asked to donate to good causes. * England: England was the last UK country to add the 5 pence charge in 2015. This charge does not apply to paper bags. In the first six months, 7 billion fewer plastic bags were used. The charge has helped people of all ages and income levels reduce their plastic bag use. The government plans to extend the charge to all stores and double it to 10p.

North America's plastic bag policies

The Bahamas: The Bahamian government banned single-use plastics in 2020. This followed a campaign by a group called the Bahamas Plastic Movement.
Canada: In 2007, Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, became the first town in North America to ban plastic bags. The Canadian government plans to ban single-use plastics like straws, stirrers, plates, and cutlery by 2021. Many cities and provinces in Canada have their own bans or charges.

Local laws governing plastic bag use in Canada
Province/Territory	Municipality	Passage date	Effective date	Effect
Alberta	Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo	10 April 2010	10 September 2010	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.
British Columbia	Victoria	17 December 2017	1 July 2018	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
Manitoba
	Leaf Rapids	22 March 2007	2 April 2007	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
	Thompson	27 September 2010	31 December 2010	Single-use polyethylene bag ban. Reusable bags must be 2.25 mils thick.
New Brunswick
	Dieppe	10 June 2019	1 October 2020	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
	Moncton		1 October 2020	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
	Riverview	10 June 2019	1 October 2020	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
Newfoundland and Labrador	Province-wide	9 April 2019	1 October 2020	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
Northwest Territories	Territory-wide		1 February 2011	Single-use plastic shopping bag charge of 25c.
Nova Scotia	Province-wide	30 October 2019	30 October 2020	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
Nunavut	Baker Lake	3 June 2021	3 June 2021	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
Prince Edward Island	Province-wide		July 2019	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
Quebec
	Brossard	16 February 2016	1 September 2016	Single-use plastic bag ban (including compostable)
	Deux-Montagnes	2009		Plastic bag ban
	Huntingdon	2008		Plastic bag ban including bags used for newspapers and flyers
	Montreal	23 August 2016	1 January 2018	Ban of plastic bags including biodegradable. Reusable bags must be at least 50 microns thickness.
Saskatchewan	Regina	31 May 2020	1 February 2022	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban effective following COVID-19 pandemic.
Yukon
	Province-wide		1 January 2022	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.
	Carmacks		1 August 2019	Single-use plastic shopping bag ban.

Guatemala: Some cities in Guatemala have banned plastic bags.
Jamaica: Jamaica banned the import, making, selling, and use of single-use plastic bags starting in 2019.
Mexico: Plastic bags are banned in many states across Mexico.
Panama: Panama passed a law banning plastic bags in 2018. It came into effect in 2019 for stores and 2020 for wholesalers.
United States:

Plastic bag laws in the United States (laws in GU, ME, NY, VT passed but not in effect yet not shown on map) Plastic bags banned A charge on some plastic bags Partial charge or ban (county or municipality level)

There is no national ban or fee for plastic bags in the United States. However, several states and territories have banned disposable bags. Many counties and cities also have their own rules, either banning bags or charging a fee. Some states have even passed laws to stop local areas from banning bags.

Oceania's efforts to reduce plastic bags

Australia:

Plastic bag bans in Australian states and territories Ban in effect (South Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia) No ban (New South Wales)

While there's no nationwide ban, lightweight plastic bags are banned in most Australian states and territories. South Australia banned them in 2008, saving an estimated 400 million bags each year. After the two largest supermarket chains banned single-use plastic bags, their use in Australia dropped by 80% in just three months.

New Zealand: New Zealand is one of the biggest producers of urban waste per person. In 2018, the government promised to stop using single-use plastic bags. By July 2019, all plastic shopping bags with handles and a thickness less than 70 microns were banned. Stores that don't follow the rule can face large fines.

South America's plastic bag laws

Argentina: In 2012, the city of Buenos Aires allowed supermarkets to charge for plastic bags, which cut their use by 50%. In 2016, the city announced a full ban on plastic bags in supermarkets starting in 2017. Many other provinces and cities in Argentina have also banned plastic bags.
Chile: In 2018, Chile became the first Latin American country to ban plastic bags nationwide. The law started by limiting bags to two per purchase and then completely banned them for large stores. By 2020, the ban also applied to small businesses. Before this, about 80 cities already had their own rules.
Colombia: Colombia planned to reduce plastic bag use by 80% by 2020 and eliminate it by 2025. In 2016, they banned plastic bags smaller than 30 cm by 30 cm. Since 2017, the government has added a tax of 20 pesos per plastic bag, which increases each year.
Uruguay: In 2018, Uruguay banned the making, importing, and selling of all non-biodegradable single-use plastic bags. Since 2019, only biodegradable bags are allowed, with a tax of 4 pesos per bag. Just days after the law passed, plastic bag use dropped by 80%.