Japan finally starts charging for plastic bags

According to government data, bags account for two per cent of the total amount of plastic waste. - AFP

TOKYO (AFP): Retailers in Japan began charging for plastic bags on Wednesday (July 1), a move aimed at curbing Japanese consumers' love for packaging and finally bringing the country in line with other major economies.

Shops including the ubiquitous convenience stores can decide how much to charge customers for the bags, with a common price being three yen (around four Singapore cents).