France bans plastic packaging for most fruits and vegetables | Environment News | Al Jazeera

France has banned the use of plastics to package most fruit and vegetables.

The ban came into effect on Saturday under new regulations that French President Emmanuel Macron’s government says are meant to phase out single-use plastics as pollution worsens globally.

Under the new rules, leeks and carrots, tomatoes and potatoes, apples and pears and about 30 other items can no longer be sold in plastic. Instead, they should be wrapped in recyclable materials.

Plastic will still be allowed for more fragile fruits such as berries and peaches, but is to be gradually phased out in the coming years.

Magazines and other publications will also need to be shipped without plastic wrapping, and fast-food restaurants will no longer be allowed to offer free plastic toys to children.

Later this year, public spaces will also be made to introduce water fountains to reduce the use of plastic bottles.

The government says the new regulation is expected to eliminate about 1 billion items of plastic waste a year.