Kind of old news but I thought I would throw my hat into the comment arena anyway;
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has confirmed he wants a phase-out of plastic shopping bags introduced within the year. The Government is under pressure to act quickly after the Chinese Government yesterday announced plans to ban free plastic bags within six months. Mr Garrett will meet his state and territory counterparts in April to discuss introducing a phase-out by the end of the year. “We think it’s absolutely critical that we get cracking on it,” he said. “There are some 4 billion of these plastic bags floating around the place, getting into landfill, ending up affecting our wildlife, [and] showing up on our beaches while we are on holidays. “I think most Australians would like to see them rid.” [Source]
Oh and a sidenote as more evidence of my previous point;
The Opposition’s environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says plastic bag pollution is a significant problem and the Coalition is willing to examine the idea.
Excellent progress in my opinion, especially due to the fact the Chinese already do it. There is talk of either choosing to ban them or make you have to pay for them. I personally don’t like the having to pay for idea, as just like higher petrol prices, people tend to just absorb the small increased financial impact if it means it won’t impact on their lazy lifestyles. A total ban however would only work if biodegradable bags were implemented on a much larger scale – although I still really advocate the reusable alternative over plastic altogether.
Retailers are really going to like [sarcasm] this but they can choke on it in my opinion….
See im not so sure about this one. I reuse all the plastic bags that come into my house when I happen to forget my proper green shopping bags I got from bunnings. Which lately is more often than not… ooops.
Anyway, the bags are reused as bin bags for me, as a result I havent bought bin bags in about 8 years. Theres always a few stored down the side of the fridge to get me by.
So… the net result of banning them, is people like me have to start buying garbage bags again. Net saving to the environment….. Nil.
Not that I throw much out anymore. Bokashi composting means I put the bin out about once a month.
Anyway, my 2 cents.
I agree Niz, that is the big issue that struck me as well. Hopefully biodegradable bags still being in the system will solve that issue. I mean every little store isn’t going to be able to offer reusable green bags for everything.
Hopefully it will result in a net positive for the environment….
There are biodegradable bags made by Maverick Enterprises that degrade in landfills and in compost w/o leaving harmful chemicals behind. Face it, we a a disposable world. Why not use something that will degrade and help out the environment?