Retail stores nationwide are obliged to charge for plastic shopping bags, and one day is one year.

According to major convenience stores, the percentage of people who decline shopping bags has reached more than 70%, which is about three times the number before the introduction of toll roads.

On the other hand, the purchase volume of plastic bags for home use, which can replace plastic shopping bags, is increasing, and how to reduce plastic waste continues to be an issue.

Since July last year, when it was mandatory to charge a fee, the decline rate of plastic shopping bags at major convenience stores has been 75% for Seven-Eleven and Lawson, and 77% for FamilyMart.

According to the Japan Franchise Association, the decline rate before the charge was about 25%, which means that it has tripled due to the obligation.



Of these, Seven-Eleven says that it has led to a reduction of about 8,000 tons of plastic waste by February, and that the profit from plastic shopping bags is used for the installation cost of collection containers for recycling PET bottles. ..



FamilyMart also uses the proceeds from the charge to make shopping carts made from marine debris.



On the other hand, according to a survey conducted by a garbage bag maker, the amount of plastic bags with handles that are similar to plastic shopping bags has more than doubled since July last year, so there is a charge. It is unclear whether this will lead to the reduction of plastic waste.

Consumers

At convenience stores, some people received plastic shopping bags and others did not, and various opinions were heard.



A female customer in her twenties, who was packing products in a bag, said, "I have come to carry my bag with me for a fee, and I have come to carry a large bag to hold my luggage. I'm happy to think about it. "



A woman in her 60s said, "I used to use my bag all the time before the charge. I think it's good that the charge has made it possible for society as a whole to think about the environment." Was there.



On the other hand, a man in his thirties who bought a plastic shopping bag said, "I often buy a plastic shopping bag because it is necessary to throw away the garbage in the lunch box. Personally, there was not much change even if I charged it." It was.



Another man said, "I have my own bag, but I don't use it much. I might cooperate if I know how much I could actually reduce the number of plastic shopping bags by paying for it. I think it is necessary because it is reused. "

Although littering has decreased

It's been almost a year since the charge for plastic shopping bags has been charged, and although the number of so-called littering plastic shopping bags has decreased in the city, some people say that the amount of plastic waste such as empty lunch boxes has not decreased.



On the morning of the 28th, eight volunteers participated in the NPO "Green Bird", which cleans up garbage dumped in the city on Tokyo Omotesando, etc., as part of its regular activities. I picked up.



In about 40 minutes of activity, four garbage bags were collected, and the most prominent ones were empty cans, PET bottles, and plastic containers for drinks.



Mr. Tsubasa Sakai, who plays the role of a volunteer leader, said, "Before the charge for plastic shopping bags, empty lunch boxes and PET bottles were often thrown away in the bag, but now they are thrown away. Yes. I don't have the impression that the amount of plastic shopping bag waste has decreased, but the amount of plastic waste has decreased. "

Expert "Change in consciousness by paying"

Hiroyuki Ueda, a senior researcher at Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting, who is familiar with environmental issues about the effects of charging for plastic shopping bags, said, "The plastic shopping bags themselves account for only 2% to 3% of the total plastic waste generated in Japan, and reducing the number of plastic shopping bags is a big factor. Although it has no impact, it is significant that the awareness of using plastic products effectively in consideration of the environment has permeated the household in the form of declining plastic shopping bags. "



On top of that, "I think it's time for each person to make a big difference in how they interact with plastic. With the charge for plastic shopping bags, it's now accepted as a matter of course not to use plastic that doesn't need to be used. I think other plastic products will also be required to make use of this experience. "