Rio expects to take 3 billion plastic bags of circulation per year

Rio — Rio expects to reduce in no less than 3 billion per year the number of plastic bags in circulation in the state. It enters into force on Wednesday, 26, a law prohibiting the distribution and sale of disposable bags in commercial establishments. According to the association of Supermarkets Fluminense, the current consumption of conventional bags, produced 100% with oil, is 4 billion per year. With the prohibition, the markets will offer new bags, produced with at least 51% of renewable sources, such as maize and sugarcane, which can be reused for up to 50 times. "Currently, there are 20 billion bags in just five years," stressed state Congressman Carlos Minc (PSB), author of the law. "Of course the environment can't handle it." By December, the markets will distribute free two recyclable bags to each customer. Anyone who wants to use more will need to pay R $0.08 per unit. From January, all will be charged. And even these bags should have their use gradually reduced already from next year. The goal is to improve situations such as Guanabara Bay, as the director of AquaRio, marine biologist Marcelo Szpilmann, says. "Today, the biggest problem is the garbage discarded incorrectly in the rivers that flow into the bay, where we have real plastic islands," he said. The information is from the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.