Bans in developed nations are progressing, but less progress in developing nations so far. To be expected, but does set the timeframe a bit further out than might appear from first-hand experiences.
We’re also seeing issues with landfill breakouts starting to occur as extreme weather events increase in severity and frequency. It might be that some talk of re-interment starts coming up in the next few years, to move them to safer locations.
The economic depression this all causes gives me pause as to how likely it is to progress.
Kenya banned the manufacturing, sale and distribution of plastic carrier bags back in 2017. Not just for large retailers, not just a 10 cent charge, total ban.
Well, bans are just one part, the other is paying for recycled plastic and those program are very expensive to start, many countries can't afford it. I've seen firsthand a miracle of what paying people some small amounts for plastic bottles can do in a relatively poor country. Many are now collecting bottles and aluminum cans after tourists like a full-time job in summers. You literally can't see a plastic bottle laying around anymore, and they've used to be everywhere.
I’ve kind of noticed the opposite around Portland, OR in that there may not be any bottles or cans on the ground anymore but there’s literally all other forms of garbage everywhere because people just dump trash cans on the streets and parking lots and pick up the bottles and walk away. Kind of ironic if the actual intent of the tax was to keep bottles and cans and garbage off of the street but I don’t actually know if that was the intent
We’re also seeing issues with landfill breakouts starting to occur as extreme weather events increase in severity and frequency. It might be that some talk of re-interment starts coming up in the next few years, to move them to safer locations.
The economic depression this all causes gives me pause as to how likely it is to progress.