Plastic Bag Reduction
Reducing our use of plastic check out bags is an important step in the march towards a sustainable future. Each plastic bag you don't use represents resources saved and these can be put to good use by future generations of Australians.
20 million Australians currently use 4 billion plastic bags annually, which means over 10 million new bags are used every day, or that we each use 200 a year. That's a bag habit!
Many retailers now offer durable, reusable bags for their customers as alternatives to single use, plastic check out bags, and the South Australian Government is taking the lead by banning the use of light weight shopping bags in South Australia from 4th May 2009. See byobags.com.au for info on the ban.
To find out how you can go plastic bag free, visit our Tips for Shoppers, Tips for Retailers , Tips for your Kitchen and Tips for Towns pages. To find out where to recycle your plastic check out bags, visit RecyclingNearYou.com.au.
Visit the other pages on this site to find out all about plastic bags, their effects on the environment and wildlife; the Planet Ark Plastic Bag Reduction Campaign from 2002-2005; how towns and communities across Australia went plastic bag free; what other countries are doing to deal with the problem of plastic bags, and more!
News
South Australian Plastic Bag Ban a Success!
05-Nov-09
Six months into South Australia's historic ban on plastic bags, an estimated 200 million checkout style bags have so far been stopped from entering landfill.
Ditch plastic bags for good!
08-Sep-09
This Saturday, 12 September 2009, the first ever international plastic bag free day will be held. Show your support by saying NO to plastic bags!