Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.5
presents a summary of the policy instruments that have been used in some
of the countries around the world to manage the plastic bag pollution problem.
A perusal of the policy instruments contained in this table will reveal that these
countries favour plastic bag bans, minimum thickness standards, use of alternate
cloth or paper bags or biodegradable plastic bags and the measures for reducing the
volume of plastic bag usage.
Table 5.5 Policy instruments for management of plastic bags around the
world
Country overview:
Nature of problem
before application of
instruments
Policy instruments applied and mode of
application
Results achieved
Australia
•Beforepolicy
instruments were
introduced about six
billion lightweight
carrier bags were
being used annually
•TheAustralianapproachtoplasticbag
pollution prevention was a Voluntary
Code of Practice, aimed at reducing
plastic bag consumption by 50% by
the end of 2005. If the target was not
achieved, the Government would impose
a tax of 25 Australian Cents per bag.
This was a threat to the retailers
•InColesBay,Tasmania,plasticbagshave
been banned altogether and residents are
being provided with alternatives such as
'calico bags'
•AwarenesscampaignsbacktheCodeof
Practice. For example, the 'Say No to
Plastic Bags' campaign is run by Clean
Up Australia in collaboration with
retailers and the government with a view
to encouraging consumers to reduce their
plastic bag consumption and increase
recycling
•Tofacilitatetheimplementationofthe
Code of Practice, a kit (consisting of
guidelines, in-store promotional items
and staff training materials) has been
developed to help retailers to reduce
consumption and increase recycling. The
guidelines recommend a hierarchy of
refuse-reduce-reuse-recycle
•Thenumberofbagsissuedin
the country has dropped by
around 21% since 2002 to
about 4.77 billion in 2004.
The major contribution to
reduction in consumption has
been made by supermarkets,
which managed a reduction in
use of light weight plastic bags
by about 25%
•Between2002and2007,
according to industry data,
per annum plastic bag
consumption in Australia
declined by 2 billion. This
coincides with the voluntary
retailer program of reducing
plastic bags by 50% that ended
in 2005 [32]
•Thecommitmentrateto
the code by supermarkets
is relatively high, i.e., 90%.
However, the participation
of non-supermarket business
and small retailers, such as
fast-food outlets, liquor stores,
pharmacies and newsagents,
is very low. Single use plastic
bags from these outlets are
estimated to make up over
50% of all plastic bags issued
in the country
