Phasing out single-use plastic bags in Europe

Plastic bags are widely thought of as the cheap way to bag your groceries.  You don't pay for them and it's only natural to assume that they don't cost much for the grocery stores to have since there are so many and they are so frequently used.  While it is true that they were made for convenience and low cost it is important that we take the whole "life" of the plastic bag into account when we determine it's true "cost" on society.

Other nations around the world, particularily Europe, deal with the growing issues of plastic bag waste by adding a small charge or tax for one-use plastic bags and have seen more and more consumers turn to reuseable grocery bags instead.  This article and short "documentary" give specific examples of countries that have made drastic changes in an area that more and more Americans are becoming concerned with today.

http://www.zerowasteeurope.eu/phasing-out-single-use-plastic-bags/