The new legislation, approved by Chilean Congress and enacted by the Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, gives small shops two years to adapt to a total ban.
Larger business will have six months to stop using plastic bags. In the meantime they will only be allowed to hand out two carrier bags per customer. Businesses that break the rules will face a fine of 370 USD. Several other countries have also been taking steps to combat plastic pollution including Panama, and England.