The Mayor's Column
Once I saw a film about plastic bags. I recall stunning images of plastic bags in surreal, comic and tragic situations, all over the world.
- Picture plastic bags hanging like strange fruit on trees and blown high into the canopy of a rainforest.
- Dripping like odd socks from power lines.
- Skipping in the wind across red-gold desert sands.
- Building stinking mountains on rubbish dumps, where small children sort through for recyclables.
- Churning through the oceans like toxic jellyfish to choke and strangle marine creatures.
The ubiquitous plastic bag, in rainbow colours, all over the world.
What impact do they have on Australians?’
“It is estimated that a total of between 50 and 80 million plastic bags enter the Australian environment as litter every year.” – www.deh.gov.au/industry/waste/plastic bags/bags-analysis.htm
Plastic bag production uses up non-renewable resources such as oil, gas and coal, emitting greenhouse gases into our environment.
Do not feel comfortable using so-called “biodegradable bags.” Research shows that many do not really degrade. Biodegradable products must break down in water, sun and landfill and so far no company seems to have passed all these tests. There are concerns also that these so-called biodegradable products contaminate the recycling stream as they are made of different chemicals from other plastic bags.
What is being done about it?
- The Australian Retailers Association [ARA] agreed in 2003 to cut plastic bags issued at the checkout by 50% by the end of 2005, against the 2002 baseline.
- The data is not yet available to show if this target has been reached but the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation says that if the voluntary reduction of 50% is not reached, the NSW Government will consider imposing regulations.
- Mosman Council supports a variety of campaigns which encourage residents and businesses to reduce, re-use and recycle, including Clean Up Australia and Planet Ark campaigns to “Say No To Plastic Bags.”
Council’s Environmental Management Plan aims “to develop a sustainable business programme to reduce small business resource use and waste generation, including packaging and plastic bags.” Council is seeking a NSW Environment Trust grant to carry out this action. We are encouraging local businesses to access the retailer’s kit produced by Clean Up Australia.
What can we as individuals do?
- Refuse plastic bags when shopping.
- Re-use shopping bags of durable quality.
- Remember the cost to the environment in litter, danger to wildlife, and landfill.
Support Earth Hour! Turn off all lights and appliances for one hour on Saturday 31 March from 7.30pm.
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
