May 12 2003
Under new legislation, it has become illegal for South African retailers to distribite thin plastic bags. Retailers found to be violating these new laws face 100,000 Rand fines or up to 10 years in prison.
New regulations mean that retailers must use eco-friendly polypropylene bags or thicker, stronger platic bags that are more economical to recycle. The thicker bags are an average of 30 microns thick as opposed to the older style bags which were only 17 microns thick.
Alternatively, shoppers can use their own bags.
The new laws came into being as plastic shopping bags litter South African streets and are known as the ‘national flower’. With South Africans consuming an estimated 8 billion shopping bags annually, it is hoped that the new laws will help to combat the litter problem.
Up until now, shopping bags were handed out free by retailers. The cost of the new bags will now be passed on to the customer.
The new laws seem to have been accepted quite well by the South African public, with demand for both types of new bags high and growing.
For more information on packaging, click here.