The World - News from Oct. 21, 1988

The environmental committee of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies has voted overwhelmingly to impose a 13-cent tax on plastic shopping bags to discourage their use. The decision to tax must be put to a vote by the full chamber and the Senate, but passage is expected since all the major parties support the measure. Most supermarkets already charge customers for each plastic bag, usually 7 cents. Some shoppers bring their own bags to avoid the added charge.