South Australia's Plastic Shopping Bag Ban 

Australia is a huge consumer of single-use plastic bags and as a result we have a large environmental problem to deal with. Each year, we use around seven billion plastic bags. That’s something like 350 a year for every single person living in Australia. That represents a massive amount of resources in making them, and a significant problem in disposing of them. 

From 1 January 2009 lightweight plastic bags are being phased out. As of the 4th of May 2009 single-use plastic bags willl be banned.

Which bags will be banned?    

• The ban will prohibit retailers from selling or giving away plastic bags with handles made of polyethylene polymer less than 35 microns thick.
• Lightweight plastic bags which are marked ‘degradable’ will be banned because degradable plastics merely break down into smaller and smaller flakes which remain as damaging waste for many years.

Which bags are allowed?

• Compostable bags that state they meet the Australian Standard
  AS 4736-2006.
• Barrier bags, the type dispensed from a roll, typically for items such as loose fruit and vegetables.
• Paper bags
• Heavier retail (or boutique) bags, typically used by clothing and department stores.
• Sturdy bags designed for multiple use such as the ‘green’ bags. These bags are recyclable at the end of their life.

KESAB environmental solutions has joined with Zero Waste SA to help find a better way for us and for our environment. Visit www.byobags.com.au for information on the plastic bag ban.

Consider these facts about single use plastic shopping bags:

• They become litter.
• Most are manufactured using oil-based resources, which are non-sustainable and pollute the environment.
• Single use plastic shopping bags take years to break down. 
• If recyclable items are placed in plastic bags for curb side collection, they have to be removed by hand before they can be sorted for recycling. 
• Single use plastic shopping bags add to the cost of the goods you purchase. A true 'waste of money'. 
• Wildlife suffers as a result of plastic shopping bags; seals, land and sea birds, penguins, and whales are harmed and sometimes killed by ingesting plastic shopping bags that end up in their environment. 

Click here for the Plastic Bag Teaching Resource. 

    Plastic Bags...this turtle thinks they are food.