Environmental, Campaign & Website News > The Plastic Bag Problem
Governments are rapidly waking up to the fact that disposable plastic shopping bags are a long term environmental nightmare, and in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, there are steps afoot to tackle the problem. As usual, the consumer can expect to pay – but supermarkets could be in the firing line too.
So what’s the problem?
However, plastic bags are a convenience item as well as an environmental problem.
Despite the fact that alternatives such as calico, heavy duty, attractively styled and reinforced canvas/plastic bags or string bags are available, people keep using disposable plastic bags. In fact, Australia alone, shoppers use around 10 billion plastic bags per year, nearly 7 billion of which are those thin, flimsy supermarket plastic bags that are used just once before being dumped.
Concern for the environment does not seem to be a sufficiently strong motivating factor. After community education programs failed to make any noticeable difference, the Irish government decided to give Irish shoppers a financial incentive (or should we say ‘disincentive?) to cut their use of plastic bags.
In early 2002, a 15 euro-cent levy was placed on plastic supermarket checkout bags used in Ireland. People now had to pay for plastic bags. This scheme saw a 90% reduction in plastic bag use in Ireland in the scheme’s first five months. Based on this positive experience, it is clear that the UK and Australian Governments are about to embark on a similar programme that will hurt shoppers’ pockets if they fail to comply with this important pro-environmental trend by purchasing their own durable shopping bags – and using them every time. There is reason to believe that the retail food trade will also face financial penalties if they do not respond to the proposed initiative.
Let’s collectively make a difference here, and resolve to become actively involved in the solution … and not part of the problem. The best place to keep your non-disposable bags is in the boot of your car … ready for the next visit to the supermarket!
The Plastic Bag Problem
Date : 18th August 2003, Source : GreenPlanetGovernments are rapidly waking up to the fact that disposable plastic shopping bags are a long term environmental nightmare, and in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, there are steps afoot to tackle the problem. As usual, the consumer can expect to pay – but supermarkets could be in the firing line too.
So what’s the problem?
- Plastic bags are generally not biodegradable and do not naturally break down in the soil after they are dumped with organic rubbish. They are therefore a long term problem for future generations and representative a negative inheritance for those following in our footsteps … in the words of Saint Exupery … “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children”.
- Plastic bags are a common problem in council kerbside recycling bins, which makes it harder to for local authorities to recycle them (plastic bags should go into the special plastic bag recycling bins that are now to be found in or close to many supermarkets)
- Plastic bags are a litter problem and, when they are left around, they are an eyesore, and
- Plastic bags can harm, trap and kill wildlife – especially those with webbed feet.
However, plastic bags are a convenience item as well as an environmental problem.
Despite the fact that alternatives such as calico, heavy duty, attractively styled and reinforced canvas/plastic bags or string bags are available, people keep using disposable plastic bags. In fact, Australia alone, shoppers use around 10 billion plastic bags per year, nearly 7 billion of which are those thin, flimsy supermarket plastic bags that are used just once before being dumped.
Concern for the environment does not seem to be a sufficiently strong motivating factor. After community education programs failed to make any noticeable difference, the Irish government decided to give Irish shoppers a financial incentive (or should we say ‘disincentive?) to cut their use of plastic bags.
In early 2002, a 15 euro-cent levy was placed on plastic supermarket checkout bags used in Ireland. People now had to pay for plastic bags. This scheme saw a 90% reduction in plastic bag use in Ireland in the scheme’s first five months. Based on this positive experience, it is clear that the UK and Australian Governments are about to embark on a similar programme that will hurt shoppers’ pockets if they fail to comply with this important pro-environmental trend by purchasing their own durable shopping bags – and using them every time. There is reason to believe that the retail food trade will also face financial penalties if they do not respond to the proposed initiative.
Let’s collectively make a difference here, and resolve to become actively involved in the solution … and not part of the problem. The best place to keep your non-disposable bags is in the boot of your car … ready for the next visit to the supermarket!
Document last updated on Wednesday 03 February 2010
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