Plastic Bag Waste Australia

The phase out of lightweight plastic bags in australia is being implemented by the states and territories rather than nationally with plastic bag bans implemented in all jurisdictions except new south wales where it remains under discussion.
Plastic bag waste australia. Just 8 7 plastic checkout bags contain enough embodied petroleum energy to drive a car 1 kilometre. 85 of australian seabirds are affected by plastic pollution. Around 200 000 are sent to landfill every single hour. It only takes about 14 plastic bags for the equivalent of the gas required to drive one mile.
Marine animals like turtles can choke on plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish seabirds get entangled in drifting fishing gear and larger animals like whales can starve because their stomachs are so full of plastic debris they ve eaten. We can cut down on the amount of plastic waste in the world by simply reducing the amount of single use plastic we use in our everyday lives. According to the 2002 nolan itu report for environment australia on plastic shopping bags analysis of levies and environmental impacts. In 2003 the tasmanian town of coles bay was the first location in australia to ban plastic bags.
Since then southeast asia has become the new destination for australia s recycled plastics with 80 87 percent going to indonesia malaysia thailand and vietnam. Although in 2008 the then environment minister peter. By july 2018 which is when the most recent data was available plastic waste exports from australia to china and hong kong reduced by 90 percent. While plastic and packaging recycling in australia is well established only 14 per cent of plastic is recovered for recycling or energy recovery.
Opt for a reusable water bottle over a 24 pack of plastic bottles from your local grocery store. Bring canvas bags to the supermarket instead of using the cashier provided plastic. This report has been prepared for zero waste south australia in accordance with the terms and conditions of appointment for lca of shopping bag alternatives dated may 2009. Cotton bags have to be used a whopping 131 times to be better for the environment than a single use plastic bag.
The study suggests australia s plastic bag ban actually contributes to the world s waste crisis with reusable bags taking longer to break down and alternatives faring no better. Out at sea plastic is deadly. Plastic bag waste in australia. Hyder consulting pty ltd abn 76 104 485 289 cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party.
That equates to 20 million new plastic bags being used every day. Plastics are made from non renewable natural resources such as crude oil gas and coal. According to waste management only 1 percent of plastic bags are returned. The average american family takes home almost 1 500 plastic shopping bags a year.
10 facts about single use plastic bags.