ARE YOU READY?

How Did We Get Here?

A national ban on plastic check-out bags could result in 4 billion less plastic bags ending up in Australia’s landfills and environment every year.

In the first major step to achieving this national goal, South Australia has announced it plans to ban single-use polyetheylene plastic bags from 4 May 2009. All types of retail outlets will be affected by the ban.

In other Australian states, governments and retailers are also working towards a phase-out or reduction in plastic bag use. These developments pose a simple question for retailers and communities. Are You Ready?

These moves are the result of a five year national campaign for the eradication of single use plastic check-out bags. It’s also part of an international push to reduce the hundreds of billions of plastic bags that get used globally every year.

This international push began back in 2002 when the Irish Government introduced a national levy on plastic bags. In a short space of time they reduced plastic check-out bag usage by more than 90%.
According to the Guardian Newspaper, at least 40 countries, states and major cities are taking action to ban or reduce the usage of plastic bags. The biggest of these announcements was in January 2008 when the Chinese Government announced that it will ban the giving away of free plastic bags by June 2008.

Over the past five years in Australia, there have been some tremendous success stories in reducing the environmental impact of plastic bags. Bunnings reduced their usage of plastic bags by over 99% by introducing a charity charge of 10 cents per plastic bag. IKEA took the same approach – like Bunnings they gave the bag charge to charity. As a result, they have now banned the usage of single-use HDPE plastic bags in their stores.

The ALDI supermarket chain has more than 150 supermarkets Australia-wide and they also charge for plastic bags. This saves them passing on the cost of ‘free’ plastic bags to consumers in the form of increased grocery prices. As a result, their customers save money by bringing their reusable bags when they shop.

Australian towns like Coles Bay and Huskisson have also shown that a community-wide ban on plastic check-out bags can work without impacting on local retailers and customers.

The South Australian Government ban is a big win for marine life and the environment. Their decision to ban plastic check-out bags means that all retailers need to start making plans now to introduce alternatives such as paper bags and reusable bags. At some point in the near future, it is very likely that a ban or a bag charge will be rolled out and implemented in other states.

Before you check out the rest of the site, visit the plastic bag facts page and consider these two points. Millions of Australians have shown their support for these moves by buying and using millions of reusable bags and paper bags. Secondly, if a country the size of China can ban the giving away of free plastic bags by June 2008, then there’s no reason why Australia cannot ban them too.

The time for action has come. The only question is: ‘Are You Ready?’

Jon Dee: Organiser, ‘The National Plastic Bag Campaign’