Environment minister wants to outlaw distributing free plastic bags

Czech Environment Minister Martin Bursík would like to ban shops from distributing free plastic bags, he said on Friday. According to Mr Bursík, plastic shopping bags create nine tonnes of waste in the Czech Republic alone each year. Mr Bursík’s suggestions came as part of a plan to reform the country’s waste-disposal legislation. According to the environment minister, the distribution of free plastic bags in shops leads to consumers using far more of them than is required.