Morocco government has intensified its efforts to totally get rid of plastic bags which are widely used in the country. Studies show that in 2015 the Moroccan citizens used 26 billion bags made of plastic. This huge number leads to the accumulation of plastic trash everywhere. As a result, this leads to significant environmental damage and a lot of costs. 
The government was actually pushed by environmental activists. The first result of this push was in 2009. Then, black trash bags were banned. Later, in 2011, the National Programme for Collection and Disposal of Plastic Bags was established. 

Last fall, the Minister of Industry suggested applying Bill 77-15. This bill totally bans plastic bags. All violators will have to pay solid fines. This year - on March 24, a decree was ratified to apply all the provisions of the 77-15 bill. 

Last Tuesday, The Minister of the Interior sent a message to the regional leaders about the bill and the new regulations.
The local leaders react to the decision of the government quite differently. Some of them support it because of its environmental importance. Others, however, fear that it will have a strong negative economic impact. According to Al Araby this restrictive law can possibly lead to the loss of 50 thousand job that now the plastics industry ensures. Also, foreign economists consider that the benefits of banning plastic bag will be significantly fewer that the negative impact on the economy. 

According to some researchers, the use of plastic bags is actually expensive because it leads to big environmental costs. This is especially valid for Morocco. In this country, most of the plastic bags are discarded outside. They are rarely recycled which increases a lot the damage on the environment.

The government of Morocco is really determined to make this ban effective. If the country manages to apply the ban soon, this will lead to environmental credentials for the coming COP 22 conference.

The plastic bags ban is a timely decision, since this country is considered to be the largest consumer of plastic bags in Africa. Moreover, it is the second one in the world after USA. This makes this governmental decision of great world environmental importance. The consumption of plastic bags in the country - about 26 billion plastic bags or 900 bags per capita each year is quite aggressive to nature. Some measures to restrict it definitely have to be taken.

The society in the country reacts differently. The environmental activists are really grateful for the ban and encourage it. On the other side, there is some resistance. Many people in the country tend to stockpile significant reserves of reusable bags.

The Moroccan Minister of Industry tried to calm down the society by stating in Tweeter that there will be reasonable alternatives of the plastic bags such as bags made of paper or fabric.

Moreover, the ban will not restrict the use of cooler bags, the freezing ones, as well the bags used in the industrial and agricultural sector, and the ones for collecting household waste.