China has announced a ban on free plastic shopping bags (to take effect June 1). The ban eliminates the flimsiest bags and forces stores to charge for others. Read more...

Our Take: Our congrats to China for really targeting consumption and aiming to reduce plastic bag waste by encouraging reusable shopping bags and charging for plastic bags.

The New York City Council passed a bill requiring large stores and retail chains to collect and recycle plastic bags. Under the new bill, which had surprising support from Progressive Bag Affiliates, a plastic bag trade group, stores must provide recycling bins in a prominent place. Read more...

Our Take: It's no surprise to us that the plastic bag industry supports the bill. It's too bad that New York City's bill misses the mark by focusing on recycling. While helpful it won't fix the problem. This initiative doesn't hit at the heart of the matter which is to significantly reduce consumption (and capture external costs associated with plastic bags). The heart of real reform focuses on implementing tactics such as Ireland's Plastax.

Check out this YouTube video that captures the essence of the mania surrounding last summer's arrival of Anya Hindmarch's much touted "I'm not a Plastic Bag" tote bag. (Great slogan - but a lousy reusable shopping bag.) This 2 minute video tells a simple story of absurdity. The following viewer comment says it all "Wow! It's amazing what we Americans will do..." Watch video...

Canada's largest specialty outdoor-goods retailer pulled most of its polycarbonate plastic containers (read Nalgene) from its shelves citing concerns over possible health risks from bisphenol A. Read more...

Our Take: We've been promoting and offering safe reusable bottles for years. Mounting evidence of health risks and reactions like this reinforces the importance of avoiding cheap bottles and/or ones made from controversial materials like polycarbonate. Replace your polycarbonate bottle with a safe option today!

NPR Marketplace host Tess Vigeland talks with Vincent Cobb, founder of Reusablebags.com, about how recent announcements are making reusable bags a big business. Listen here...

A rubbish superhero in the UK is aiming to banish plastic bags! Might be goofy, but stunts like this are helping to raise awareness. Read more...