Japan Aims To Ban Free Plastic Bag Distribution By Stores

TERRADAILY

bagu ja nai, e desu na

Tokyo (AFP) Jun 13, 2005
Japan announced a draft plan Monday to stop retailers from giving out plastic bags for free amid efforts to improve the environment in the nation where the landmark Kyoto Protocol was sealed.

The proposal by the environment ministry would cut back on Japan's widespread use of plastic bags either through legislation or agreements with industry to end free distribution.

"If everything goes as scheduled, the bill to ban free distribution of plastic bags will be sent to the parliament in 2006 at the earliest," an environment ministry official said.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to present its own report on the bag issue on Thursday after which the two ministries will finalize details.

Plastic bags are regularly distributed without asking by Japanese merchants. According to a survey by the Kyoto government, 10 percent of the plastic garbage in the western city comes from bags given by retailers.

"There are no similar nationwide statistics, but we expect charging for plastic bags will reduce a significant amount of garbage from households," the environment ministry official said.

The Japanese government faces an uphill battle to meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions six percent by 2008-2012 from the 1990 level. It hopes to achieve the goal partly by reducing the amount of household rubbish.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

CAR TECH

Eco-Friendly Motor Rally Sets Off From Kyoto To Celebrate Environment

Kyoto, Japan (AFP) Jun 09, 2005
Dozens of eco-friendly cars cruised from this ancient Japanese city that gave birth to the landmark environmental treaty in a motor rally to promote sustainable development.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.