China's biggest plastic bag factory shuts down

London, Feb 28 (UNI) Concern for clean and green environment has forced closure of China's largest plastic bag factory.

The factory closed following a government environmental campaign that will curb their use significantly.

The company Huaqiangis, which employs 20,000 people, stopped production at its factory in central Henan province last month.

''More than 90 per cent of our products are on the limit list,'' a management spokesman said, referring to a central government edict that will result in a ban on ultra-thin plastic bags from June 1. ''As a result, the only way forward for the factory is closure.'' The factory has a production capacity of 250,000 tonnes of plastic bags worth 150m pounds a year. Last month, the government announced that shoppers would have to pay for plastic bags at supermarkets and other shops from June 1. The State Council, or cabinet, also said the production, sale and use of ultra-thin bags would be banned completely.

The over-use of plastic bags in China is a major problem.

In the booming southern city of Shenzhen, at least 1.75 billion plastic bags are used each year, according to previous data, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Shenzhen's environmental protection department said the bags were posing a huge problem, as they generally did not decompose for 200 years, while some never would.

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