New Zealand Fines Retailers Heavily for Supplying Plastic Bags

New Zealand Retailers face “draconian” £52,000 (NZ$100,000) fines for serving plastic bags to customers, according to June 30 UK Independent newspaper story. The Telegraph reports that “… The ban encompasses not only lightweight plastic bags, but also thicker versions handed out by department stores and even ‘environmentally friendly’ biodegradable and compostable options … it will be left to shoppers themselves to police the law and report offenders … Underpinning the ban is the determination of the government to cut the amount of plastic ending up in rivers and oceans in order to minimise the threat faced by vulnerable seabirds, fish and other marine mammals …”