October 3, 2008 - ...plastic bags. Several countries in Europe are required to charge money for plastic bags, with the result being a massive decrease in their use. China earlier this year banned free plastic bags, though the sacks are still available for a charge. Nonetheless, news accounts from this summer indicated a 90 percent decrease in the number of bags given out in China. Bangladesh has also banned plastic bags, in part because they are thought to exacerbate flooding by blocking drainage...