We’re Lagging Behind Uganda, Kenya And US On Plastic Bags

A new study has shown Australia is struggling to kick plastic habit. Meanwhile overseas, more and more regions are banning plastic bags altogether.

Our retailers’ voluntary code to reduce the use of plastic bags has ended. According to a study of Sydney retailers Total Environment Centre despite four years of government and industry promises to reduce the use of plastic bags:

• Last year we used more than 4 billion plastic bags – about 13 million a day
• In 67% of cases checkout operators automatically handed out a free plastic bag, without asking if one is required, even when 3 item or less were bought.
• 64% of shoppers used a free plastic bag while 32% brought their own bag;
• 42% of supermarkets in the City of Sydney area had no recycling bin. All IGA branches have no recycling facilities
• 65% of supermarkets have no promotional material aimed at reducing plastic bag use

Just This Week Overseas In The Battle Against Plastic Bags

A total ban on plastic bags in Uganda took place on Sunday. Under the new rules, companies are forbidden from producing, importing or using plastic bags. But it is unlikely individuals will be punished for using existing ones. And the government has launched an campaign for Ugandans to go back to using banana leaves to carry stuff.

Light plastic bags were banned in Kenya, while a 120 per cent excise duty was put on sturdier, polythene bags.

Plastic bags were banned in chain supermarkets in Oakland, USA. But the ban doesn’t apply to fast food chains or restaurants.

Also on Sunday a law took effect in California mandating that grocery and general merchandise stores provide customers with a way to recycle their plastic bags. The Total Environment Centre recommends we enact such a law.

On March 27 this year, the City and County of San Francisco became the first city in the US to ban plastic shopping bags. Orange County, the City of Santa Monica, Portland and now the entire State of California are all considering following suit.