There are a number of things that governments can do to stem the toxic tide — from running public awareness campaigns, to offering incentives for recycling, and introducing levies or even banning certain plastic products outright.
Dozens of national and local governments around the world have already adopted policies to reduce the use of disposable plastic. And the number continues to grow. Here are some tide-turning national governments and city authorities: (from Single-Use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability and news outlets)
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Bangladesh
Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban thin plastic shopping bags in 2002 after plastic bags were found to have exacerbated the deadly flooding of 1988 and blocked drains during floods in 1998. During a public awareness campaign, offenders were told they could face fines of up to US$71 and six months in jail. However, despite public support, the ban was not strictly enforced and plastic bags are still widely used, especially in food markets. A major hurdle is the lack of cheap alternatives.