Plastic bags are a huge environmental problem. Billions of bags used worldwide end in nature and just turn into garbage, damaging the environment and causing serious damage to fauna: more than 100,000 sea mammals have died this year because of plastic bags. And their use is far from stopping: in the last 10 years the use of plastic bags has increased 47% in Europe.
Luckily, there are countries inside and outside Europe that are taking convincing measures against that situation: for example, France has totally banned the free distribution of plastic bags, and Morocco has taken a decisive step this week, establishing a total ban to distribute plastic bags in its territory.
In Spain we were on the right track, because in 2011 the Government passed a law to progressively reduce the use of plastic bags until a total ban in 2018. However, shortly thereafter, they approved an amendment that generically declared that Spain would gradually adapting according to the the long term calendar of plastic bags reduction defined by the EU.
We can not allow more delays. Spain, which has managed to reduce the use of plastic bags, is now able to lead their total elimination along with other countries such as France and Morocco, and must fulfill its initial commitment to completely eliminate the use of plastic bags before 2018.
This Sunday July 3rd is the World day without plastic bags, is perfect moment to remind the Ministry of Environment and the Government of Spain that they can’t breach the promise to completely ban the plastic bags. It depends on us to react now and ask them to stop this plague that pollutes our cities and degrades our forests, seas and beaches killing thousands of animals every year.
Support this petition and tell the Ministry of Environment and the Government of Spain that you don’t want further delays in banning plastic bags.
Photo: Duncan Hull (CC by 2.0)
