THE Greens have announced they will introduce legislation in the new parliament to ban single-use plastic bags in NSW, which lags behind other states that have already adopted this measure to reduce the environmental damage caused by plastic.
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Greens candidate for Bega Margaret Perger said she is pleased the Greens are taking action to finally put a stop to this “environmental catastrophe”.
“The Bega Valley Shire Council has already unanimously voted in principle to ban single use plastic bags and quite some years ago the tourist village of Mogo successfully banned them,” Ms Perger said.
“Previous Labor governments have toyed with plastic bag bans or levies, but never followed through, and the Liberals have done nothing to prevent plastic bag pollution.
“South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT have successfully banned lightweight plastic bags.
“There is no excuse for NSW to allow them, and the Greens are calling on the Labor and Liberal parties to support this ban.
“This is especially important for coastal regions like ours where marine pollution from plastic bags is so deadly.
“An estimated 50 million plastic bags end up in the environment each year in Australia, mostly in our waterways and ocean, where they kill and injure dolphins, turtles and other marine life,” she said.
The Greens legislation will introduce a plastic bag ban by the end of 2015 and be similar to other states’ laws, which ban lightweight shopping bags being given out or sold by retailers to customers to carry away goods.
The ban will focus on plastic bags of less than 35 microns, which includes single-use, lightweight bags such as grocery bags with handles.
Ms Perger said a plastic bag ban would help to reduce overall plastic consumption and the reliance on fossil fuels, and prevent the death of thousands of marine animals.
"When I visit family and friends in Canberra I see first-hand how easily people have adapted to a plastic-free shopping experience while many people in NSW already take their reusable bags when shopping.
“I have been doing it for many years.
“Already some national retailers have shown they can operate effectively without plastic bags including in NSW, there is no reason similar practices cannot be adopted by supermarkets and shops throughout NSW.
“There are plenty of alternatives available for businesses and consumers,” Ms Perger said.
