South Australia to ban single-use plastic bags from January 1, 2008

09-Jun-05

The government in South Australia will introduce regulations to ban the use of high-density polyethylene bags mostly issued by supermarkets, video stores and fruit and vegetable sellers - from January 1, 2008. State environment ministers have agreed to a voluntary phase-out of plastic bags, which cost between 1c to 2c each to produce, by the end of 2008. This move aims to eradicate about 500 million "single-use" HDPE bags which have become a major problem, as a large number of them end up as rubbish, clogging waterways and blotting the landscape. Of the 6.9 billion plastic bags used in Australia last year, about 6.01 billion were single-use. EXEMPT from the ban will be the thicker plastic bags, which are used mainly by department and clothing stores. Small plastic bags, known as "barrier bags" and used to separate meat, fruit and vegetables, are also exempt for hygiene purposes. If the ban is approved, the State Government will set up a taskforce to help the transition for retailers and small businesses over the next 3 years. It will also consider penalties for people or retailers breaching the ban.