Free plastic bag ban pays off; most Dutch bring own bag

The ban on free plastic shopping bags in stores seems to be having good effects. A massive 83 percent of Dutch now take their own bag when going to the store, according to a study SAMR did on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure, ANP reports. The survey was done early in May. Just over a thousand people participated. According to the results, 66 percent of Dutch "rarely or never" buy a plastic bag. 90 percent know that it is no longer allowed to provide free plastic bags. And 71 percent believe this is a good thing. Only 8 percent are firmly against it.