Information via CAB Spain
The law that has been in force for some time will come into effect from July 1 2018 prohibits the provision of free plastic bags at the point of sale.
This applies to all the plastic bags supplied to the state market, as well as the waste generated by said bags, including bags, with or without a handle, made of plastic and provided to consumers at points of sale of goods or products, including online sales and home delivery.
Biodegradable plastic bags are also included as contain substances that a damaging to the environment.
Exemptions:
Very light plastic bags’ means plastic bags with a thickness of less than 15 microns, which are necessary for reasons of hygiene, or which are supplied as primary packaging for bulk foods, such as fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, among others, when its use contributes to preventing the waste of these foods.
Also exempt are plastic bags with a thickness equal to or greater than 50 microns with a percentage equal to or greater than 70% of recycled plastic.
Prices:
For plastic bags according to their thickness
Bags of thickness less than 15 microns intended for uses other than those listed in the definition of very light bags of article 3 d): 5 cents / bag.
Bags of thickness between 15 and 49 microns: 15 cents / bag.
Bags of thickness equal to or greater than 50 microns: 15 cents / bag.
Bags of thickness equal to or greater than 50 microns, with content equal to or greater than 50% recycled plastic but less than 70%: 10 euro cents / bag.
There are penalties for non compliance.
Further laws are to come into effect in 2020 and 2021 which will consist in diminishing the use of plastic bags further with the intention of eliminating these altogether.
Reused plastic bags:
We can find no exemption in the law for these plastic bags.
