Mexico City — Querétaro, a large industrial city in central Mexico, imposed a bag ban in all commercial establishments Aug. 1, becoming the first major municipality in Mexico to take such action.
National plastics industry association Anipac reacted by saying that bans and fines, which can add up to $16,000 in Querétaro's case, would not solve the problem of excessive plastic waste.
In an Aug. 1 news release, Anipac (Asociación Nacional de Industrias del Plástico AC) also said authorities in Querétaro had agreed to work with it and major bag manufacturing group Inboplast (Industriales de la Bolsa Plástica AC) on campaigns to convince people to use and recycle plastic bags responsibly.
The ban had been due to take effect on April 1. It was postponed for four months after appeals from Anipac and Inboplast.
Anipac said tougher regulations, rather than a ban, was the best way forward. It will continue to work with authorities in Querétaro and elsewhere to develop a national sustainability plan, it added.
"The plastics industry is endeavoring to generate a technical environmental norm to regulate plastic bags and create better practices for the care of the environment," it said.
