Vietnam has revealed sweeping plans to cut the usage of plastic bags in the country.

Vietnam has announced that it will attempt to reduce the country's dependency on plastic bags by 40 per cent by 2015, as it looks to make dramatic changes to the way it deals with this problematic waste.

The bulk of the reduction will occur in supermarkets and shopping malls, which is where large numbers of plastic bags are used on a daily basis, around the clock,

This possibly groundbreaking regulation forms part of the country's overall strategy to tackle waste and environmental pollution.

It has been included in a draft scheme for the management of rubbish by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The policy would seek to do more than just reduce the amount of plastic bags that are used, but also heavily regulate all aspects of it, from production to usage to disposal.

Additionally, the government is keen to recycle them instead of putting them in landfills, and is looking at ways it can put this into effect.

As a long-term goal, the country aims to further cut plastic bag usage, proposing a 65 per cent reduction over the next 12 years.

A suitable alternative for carrying goods in the country are paper bags and personalised carrier bags, which can be used repeatedly.

This is important to note, because at present, no suitable alternative exists.

As with most busy hotspots around the world, Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam, plastic bag waste is extensive.

Moreover, with the country undergoing rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, the usage of plastic bags has increased.

It has been reported that as much as 50 tonnes of plastic bags end up in landfills.

Tackling this epidemic, whether through legislation or education, does a lot to not only cut down on unnecessary waste, but helps to make the world greener and cleaner.