BACKGROUND: INTRODUCING A BAN ON PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS
A number of jurisdictions have already banned plastic shopping bags, including South
Australia in 2009, the ACT and NT in 2011 and Tasmania in 2013.
The Greens’ bill to ban plastic shopping bags in New South Wales will:
·
Minimise the number of plastic bags entering waterways and the marine
environment, and reduce harm to marine animals.
·
Reduce consumption of plastic products.
·
Encourage more sustainable packaging solutions using reusable and
biodegradable alternatives to plastic.
·
Support the community’s aspiration for improving environmental
sustainability.
·
Reduce the visual impacts of plastic bag litter.
What bags would be affected
Plastic bags of less than 35 microns thickness would be banned. This includes lightweight
single-use plastic bags such as grocery bags with handles and other lightweight bags
used to carry away products from retailers, such as take away food or alcohol.
The following bags would not be included in the ban:
·
Barrier bags – the type dispensed from a roll to hold items such as loose
fruit and vegetables
·
Heavier style retail bags – the type usually used by clothing and
department stores
·
Sturdy bags designed for multiple use such as ‘green’ bags
·
Biodegradable compostable bags that meet the Australian Standard 47362006
·
Paper bags
·
Bin liners for purchase
·
Zip lock storage bags
·
Plastic bags that are an integral part of the packaging (such as bread,
frozen foods, ice bags or bait bags).
·
Re-usable plastic bags
Some communities in NSW like Kangaroo Valley, Huskisson on Jervis Bay and Manly
have taken steps independently to reduce plastic bag use, either at a council level, or
with the cooperation of local retailers and customers. State-based regulation can help to
accelerate this change, reduce consumption of plastic and reduce the entry of plastic
bags into the environment.
Environmentally devastating
Plastic pollution is a major waste problem in NSW, contributing to landfill and polluting
the sates waterways, coastlines and oceans.
·
Australians use more than 4 billion plastic grocery-style bags each year.
·
An estimated 50 million of these bags enter the environment, blown from
bins or landfill, and often ending up in waterways and the ocean.
·
It is estimated each bag is used just 12 minutes on average.
·
A plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to break down.
·
Plastic bag litter kills tens of thousands of birds, whales, dolphins, seals
and turtles every year.
·
These bags are made from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource that
requires environmentally damaging mining and drilling to access.