Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 25th May, 2017. A drain blocked with plastic bags in Dhaka. Bangladesh became the first country to regulate disposable bag use when the government banned single-use plastic bags in 2002. At that time environmental groups estimated that about 9.3 million plastic bags were dumped in the Dhaka city alone every day, with only 10-15% being put in dustbins. Despite an awareness program warning of a steep fine and six months of imprisonment, after about a year the plastic bags began to excess the market again due to a lack of enforcement.One of the major impacts of plastic

• Contributor: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo
• Image ID: J95XT9
• File size: 38.6 MB (2.3 MB Compressed download)
• Releases: Model - no | Property - no
• Dimensions: 4500 x 3000 px | 38.1 x 25.4 cm | 15 x 10 inches | 300dpi
• Date taken: 25 May 2017
• Photographer: ZUMA Press

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May 25, 2017 - Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh - A drain blocked with plastic bags in Dhaka. Bangladesh became the first country to regulate disposable bag use when the government banned single-use plastic bags in 2002. At that time environmental groups estimated that about 9.3 million plastic bags were dumped in the Dhaka city alone every day, with only 10-15% being put in dustbins. Despite an awareness program warning of a steep fine and six months of imprisonment, after about a year the plastic bags began to excess the market again due to a lack of enforcement.One of the major impacts of plastic bags in Bangladesh is their impact on the storm water drainage system. Plastic bags block drains and waterways, threatening urban environments and creating severe safety hazards. This accumulation of plastic bags on the environment cause deterioration of the landscapes, agriculture soils and it is associated to the death of domestic and wild animals. Landfills or burned each solution is very harmful for the environment. Burning plastic bags emit toxic gases that harm the atmosphere and increase the level of VOCs in the air while landfills hold them indefinitely as part of the plastic waste problem throughout the globe. (Credit Image: © Probal Rashid via ZUMA Wire)