New Scientist: England is the latest in a line of countries and territories to get tough on single-use, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bags - the type dished out in many shops - by introducing a levy on their use.
While any waste reduction is a positive move, the environmental benefits of focusing on just one component of the waste stream are questionable.
So what are the facts about their environmental impact?
How big is the problem?
Plastic bag use is endemic to consumer societies and the...