Tasmanian Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, David O’Byrne, yesterday annouced plans to take a proposal to Cabinet to implement a ban on lightweight plastic bags. “The Government is committed to reducing the impact of lightweight plastic bags on the environment, addressing littering and to increasing resource recovery and recycling,” O’Byrne said. “We have listened to the community’s concerns over these issues and they are telling us they want to see action.” Mr O’Byrne... ...Read more »

The Federal Court in Adelaide has declared Nupak Australia Pty Ltd engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and made false representations about its ‘Goody’ branded plastic bags. The Federal Court in Adelaide has declared Nupak Australia Pty Ltd engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and made false representations about its ‘Goody’ branded plastic bags. From at least May 2009 Nupak claimed its ‘Goody’ branded plastic bags were biodegradable and compostable... ...Read more »

Western Australia could become the third Australian region to ban the plastic bag if the State Opposition has their way. The WA Labor Party is set to introduce a Private Members Bill to Parliament next month that could see plastic bags banished from the state, following in the footsteps of South Australia and the Northern Territory. “Western Australians use about 400 million plastic shopping bags each year,” Opposition Environment spokeswoman Sally Talbot said, according to AAP. “Only... ...Read more »

The Northern Territory Government is taking the lead from South Australia, announcing a decision to phase out single-use shopping bags as part of their climate change policy. They are also moving toward the introduction of a container deposit scheme – like that seen in SA – and ahead of any final decision on a nationwide deposit container scheme. “We’ll be introducing legislation in 2010 to ban plastic bags in the Territory,” NT Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, said –... ...Read more »

New research has shown that Sydney supermarket shoppers are using more new plastic bags than those in other major cities, including Melbourne, London and Hong Kong. The investigation, by Australian and overseas journalism students, highlighted that most consumers were yet to act on the issue despite surveys suggesting shoppers would look to reduce their plastic bag use. Sydney surprise A Sydney survey of more than 4000 customers by UTS journalism students found that 79 per cent of shoppers still... ...Read more »

Six months into South Australia’s ban on plastic bags, the state government has labelled it a remarkable success. An estimated 200 million checkout style bags have so far been stopped from entering our landfill and shoppers have been quick to embrace the changes for the sake of the environment, they advised. Premier Mike Rann and Environment Minister Jay Weatherill yesterday released results of research that has tracked shoppers before and after the ban taking effect on May 4 this year. “Remembering... ...Read more »

Leading British supermarkets and their customers have effectively halved the number of carrier bags handed out since 2006. Having achieved a cut in bag numbers of 26 per cent by the end of 2008 (compared with 2006 figures), supermarket customers have made incredible progress and extended this to a 48 per cent reduction in England in just a further five months. Comparing May 2006 to May 2009, 346 million fewer bags were used by customers in that one month alone. The new figures, announced today by... ...Read more »

Coles, Australia’s second largest supermarket chain, will be selling new re-usable and biodegradable checkout bags in its stores across Australia from September 1 this year as the issue of plastic bags remains a major talking point. The Federal Government is still reluctant to impose a nationwide ban; however South Australia and a few small cities around Australia have already made the move. Coles said the new checkout bags were part of their plan “to provide a broader range of alternatives... ...Read more »

The plastic bag ban in South Australia is set to come into effect next Monday, with supermarket staff set to wear badges asking for customer understanding. Premier Mike Rann is excited about the positive impact the decision should have on the environment. “South Australians are leading the nation by saying no to plastic bags,” he said. “We did it back in 1977 with our hugely successful drink container deposit which has dramatically cut litter and landfill. Now we’re going... ...Read more »

New figures released by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) have highlighted the steady progress UK’s leading high street and grocery retailers have made in the quest to reduce plastic bag use – an environmental issue that has been a major talking point around the world in recent years. UK’s retailers managed to exceed a voluntary target to reduce the environmental impact of carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008. Since 2006, retailers have delivered a 40% reduction in... ...Read more »