On June 1, 2023, the local government of Danao City, Cebu Province, Philippines, announced a citywide ban on the use of plastic products by businesses.
In fact, the city's plastic ban went into effect two years ago, but was suspended during the New Crown epidemic.
City information officer Mitch Mondigo said that on the first day of the re-imposition of the plastic ban, most businesses in the city complied with the ban.
The city will continue to monitor compliance and encourage people to "bring their own bags" when they go out, which can be woven, cloth or paper bags.
Meanwhile, wet goods merchants can still use plastic bags as primary packaging materials.
Mondigo said, "We've noticed that shoppers are getting used to carrying their own eco-friendly bags, and some businesses are selling these recyclable bags."
Businesses that violate the plastic ban will face a fine of 1,000 pesos for the first offense, 2,000 pesos for the second, and 5,000 pesos for the third or six months in jail and revocation of their business license.
Another country in the world with the toughest plastic ban is Kenya in Africa. Kenya's anti-plastic bag ordinance, which came into force in August 2017, is known as the world's toughest "plastic ban". The Act provides that Kenyan citizens who produce, sell and use plastic bags will face up to four years in prison or a penalty of about KES 4 million.
