The European Commission launched a public consultation in 2011 asking for individuals and businesses to give their views on whether the European Union should tax or altogether ban plastic carrier bags in order to tackle rising levels of plastic waste.
Bulgarian Government is imposing a new eco-tax in July, adding to the cost of retail plastic carrier bags in a bid to phase out their use in the country.
Italy, one of the top users of plastic shopping bags in Europe, is banning them starting January 1, with retailers warning of chaos and many stores braced for the switch.
A revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) paving the way for a resource efficient Europe.
