GREEN GROUP HAILS PLASTIC BAG BAN

Friday, 05 March 2004 10:00

The move to a ban is long overdue and reflects the spectacular failure of the industry and joint government to respond to community calls for the phase out of the deadly bags.
 
"The Premier's announcement shows once again that self-regulation by industry simply doesn't work," said Jeff Angel, TEC Director. "Last year's industry/government deal that rejected a levy in favour of an industry plan, failed to listen to the community's call for a cleaner environment."

"Public patience is running out, with the senseless waste of 6 billion plastic bags going to landfill or polluting the environment, every year. It's wasteful consumption of the worst kind."
"We believe, a ban on plastic bags would be far more effective than a levy that would allow the well-off to continue their bad habits. If we want to see the end of plastic bags, a ban makes the most sense."

Communities around Australia have been imposing their own bans in the absence of State or Federal leadership. Last year Coles Bay in Tasmania and Huskisson in NSW banned plastic bags from being sold in retail outlets.

"Plastic bags should be just the beginning of a new attitude to waste, that includes product take-back by industry. The community expects the Government to act on other problematic wastes, including toxic electronics and tyres and to require industry to take-back products for recycling or reuse. The NSW Government is expected to announce a policy on these in the near future," Mr Angel said.