Australia eyes ban on plastic bags by end of 2008

10 January 2008 14:52  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--Australia’s Environment Minister Peter Garrett plans to introduce a ban on plastic bags by the end of this year, he told the country’s news media on Thursday.

 

Garrett ruled out a tax on plastics bags to deter their use but rather argued for a ban.

 

“We don’t need another tax in this country, what we need to do is phase out plastic bags,” he told Australia’s ABC News.

 

“Other countries can do it, Australia can too,” he said with reference to plans in China and many other countries to curb or ban the use of plastic bags.

 

China earlier this week announced that shops would no longer be allowed to give out free plastic bags and it banned the production of ultra-thin bags from 1 June.

By: Stefan Baumgarten
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