Supermarkets fail plastic bag test

By
Tuesday, 10 July, 2007

An undercover survey of City of Sydney supermarkets shows that plastic bag use is again on the rise, despite the promises of retailers to reduce consumption. The survey results give strong support for the announcement by State and federal environment ministers that plastic bags will be phased out by January 2009.

"The survey results are a testimony to the failure of the voluntary approach to reducing plastic bags," said Jeff Angel, director of the Total Environment Centre.

The survey found that:

  • In 67% of cases checkout operators automatically handed out a free plastic bag, without asking if one is required, even when three items or less were bought;
  • 64% of shoppers used a free plastic bag while 32% brought their own bag;
  • 42% of supermarkets in the City of Sydney area had no recycling bin. All IGA branches have no recycling facilities; and
  • 65% of supermarkets have no promotional material aimed at reducing plastic bag use.

"The survey results expose the Code as nothing but a delaying tactic, and enforceable legislative action is needed for a better and faster outcome. Government inaction is allowing billions of plastic bags every year to go to landfill, litter our streets, pollute our waterways and damage our marine life," City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

"Plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to break down - they create long-term problems that generations to come will have to deal with. The Government should stop bowing to industry pressure and take urgent action to ban lightweight plastic bags, encourage the use of reusable alternatives to plastic and provide levies on other disposable plastic bags."

The community has vocalised its concerns over the impacts of plastic bags and government inaction. Eighty-one community groups across NSW joined to urge the NSW Government to ban free plastic bags.

"We can not let retailers delay regulation any longer. It's time environment ministers called "˜time up' and regulated. Every year we delay means more litter and greenhouse gas pollution created, and precious resources are wasted," Angel said.

Governments around the world have regulated to reduce plastic bag use, including Ireland, South Africa, India, Victoria and, most recently, San Francisco, which banned plastic bags from supermarkets.

"Only a ban on the lightweight bags and a levy on the alternative throw-away bags will make a dramatic impact on the four billion bags consumed annually. A levy alone will not be sufficient to make the necessary cuts, since experience has shown people will simply absorb the cost and continue to consume plastic bags," Angel said.

Related News

Energy efficiency to slash greenhouse emissions and bills

A new City of Sydney master plan for energy efficiency will show businesses and residents how to...

Total Facilities 2015 seminar program announced

Total Facilities, a seminar and exhibition event for the built environment, will be held from...

Funding boost for clean desalination and irrigation system

An alternative water desalination and irrigation system, based on clean thermal energy, has...


  • All content Copyright © 2024 Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd