Plastic Ban Curbs White Pollution

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, since the ban on free plastic shopping bags came into effect on June 1, 2008, the bags handed out by retailing businesses have fallen by more than 24 billion. That adds up to 600,000 tons of plastic. This volume would have used 3.6 million tons of petroleum or over five million tons of standard coal in its production and resulted in carbon dioxide emissions of 10 million tons. Plastic shopping bags are a main source of the planet's growing "white pollution."