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In the aftermath of a public forum organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in the Knesset on June 17, 2008, with the participation of Knesset members, the director generals of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Finance, representatives of retail chains, merchants' associations, manufacturers of plastic bags and green organizations, Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra held an internal discussion with professionals in the ministry. In the wake of this meeting, it was decided that the Ministry of Environmental Protection will begin to formulate a bill banning the production, import, marketing and distribution of T shirt plastic bags (which are distributed free of charge in retail chains). The bill would include an exact definition of a T shirt plastic bag (degradable and non-degradable, size and thickness of the bag). It would not limit the use of other bags nor would it relate to the price to be collected for selling different types of bags. Minister Ezra instructed professionals in the ministry to distribute the law memorandum to all stakeholders, including manufacturers, retail chains and Knesset members who presented bills on the subject, namely, Esterina Tartman and Dov Khenin. The minister is convinced that the proposed law will bring about a real environmental revolution in relation to the use of plastic bags in Israel, and, in his opinion, alternatives will certainly be found, including: baskets, multi-use bags or other bags with a lesser impact on the environment. According to a study conducted by the S. Neaman Institute for Advanced Studies in Science and Technology located in the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and commissioned by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, some 2 billion plastic bags are used by Israel's residents in retail chains and shops. The study related to T shirt type bags, which are distributed free of charge. Some of the bags reach waste disposal sites after they are discarded or reused and a relatively small, but nevertheless very significant part in terms of its adverse environmental impact, lands up in open space and damages flora and fauna. A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection found that some 80% of the public understands that the rampant use of plastic bags damages the environment and some 40% believes that this damage is severe. An absolute majority of the public feels that steps should be taken to reduce plastic bag use through such means as bans on their use, charges for their use and increased awareness.
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