Free plastic bags to be banned
Rick Wallace, Victorian political reporter
July 18, 2006
CONSUMERS will be slugged 10c for each plastic bag they use in Victoria, the first state to ban the ubiquitous free shopping bag.
The move could be the catalyst for a nationwide ban, with NSW and South Australia considering similar moves despite research suggesting the costs outweigh the benefits.
While environmentalists welcomed the move, retailers said the levy was unnecessary as shops had already drastically cut the use of plastic bags.
The plan, to be introduced in three years, mirrors a similar measure in Ireland and the revenue - predicted to be about $100 million a year initially - will be retained by the retailers.
Small businesses will be exempt and the law will not apply to biodegradable bags or bags necessary for separating meat or deli items from other shopping.
The state Government predicts the move will dramatically reduce the annual consumption of 1.1billion bags in Victoria alone.
Environment Minister John Thwaites said a 10c levy at Bunnings stores had reduced bag consumption by 99 per cent.
"Non-biodegradable plastic bags kill substantial numbers of whales, seals, turtles and other marine wildlife and can take up to 1000 years to break down in the environment," Mr Thwaites said.
The policy comes despite a Productivity Commission report that found a ban should be abandoned in favour of tougher anti-litter laws.
The report found that 1 per cent - or 69 million - of the 6.9billion plastic bags used each year in Australia ended up as litter and the damage they did to animals was uncertain.
Plastics and Chemical Industries Association chief executive Michael Catchpole said he was disappointed the Government had not consulted his members.
"I look forward to an announcement next week by the minister of a ban on cigarettes, therefore reducing the number of cigarette butts, which are the largest single component of the litter stream," he said.
Australian National Retailers Association spokesman Stan Moore said major retailers had cut plastic bag use by 45per cent in the two years to 2005.
But Planet Ark founder John Dee said the commission's report was biased in not recommending a ban and said research had identified the harm done by plastic bags as early as 1980. He said there was photographic evidence of the mortal harm bags did to wildlife and added he had been inundated with calls from farmers whose calves had died after swallowing plastic bags.
A spokesman for NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus said: "If Victoria comes up with a workable model then we would certainly be interested."
South Australian Environment Minister Gail Gago said the state wanted to see a ban on single-use plastic bags.
Additional reporting: Pia Akerman
