Paraguay mulls plastic bag ban

Paraguay's ecology, natural resources and environment commission is backing a bill that seeks to reduce the use of polythene plastics.

The draft legislation calls for shopping bags made of polythene or other conventional plastics to be replaced by those manufactured using biodegradable or degradable materials, according to a government release.

The commission has recommended that if the bill becomes law the implementation period is set at 36 months and not 12 months, which is what the bill's sponsors have proposed.

The commission said the extra two years would give retailers and manufacturers time to prepare for the implementation of the new measures.