New Zealand Passes Banbr on Single-Use Plastic Bags The legislation, which was announcedbr in August 2018, came into force on July 1. The ban prevents companies from supplyingbr single-use shopping bags, while still allowingbr reusable carriers to be provided. Shoppers are being encouraged to reportbr retailers that continue to offer plastic bagsbr and officials will perform random checks. Companies that violate the newbr law can face up to $67,000 in fines. The ban is New Zealand's attempt to addressbr the growing concern of plastic pollution, which is estimated to injure or kill morebr than 100,000 marine mammals a year. New Zealand’s Environment Minister, Eugenie Sage,br hopes the new ban will help start the country’sbr must needed conversation on recycling.