A litter issue

Plastic bags have emerged as a public environmental issue, particularly as a litter issue. We use plastic bags everyday but while their use can be often measured in minutes, their damaging presence in the environment as litter can last for years.

Coming to grips with the plastic bag issue may appear simple, however there is a range of issues to consider, with an even greater array of solutions on offer. Some people call for plastic bags to be banned; others suggest a levy and some say that technology, such as biodegradable bags, can provide the answer. Getting people to change their behaviours through reducing their use is the key focus of current government and community initiatives.

A number of organisations are taking the lead in trying to reduce the impact of plastic bags through a variety of campaigns and programs and the federal government, in consultation with the Australian Retailers Association, has set targets to reduce plastic bag use over the next two years.

This section summarises the wealth of information about the issues and proposed solutions to the plastic bag problem.