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Australia's Plastic Bag Ban

Writer's picture: SarahSarah

Updated: Feb 5, 2020

As of July 2018, Australia banned single use plastic bags in most of its major grocery chains. This has led to a massive reduction of the production of bags AND the number that end up in our landfills and eventually in our waterways.


In July 2019, Sunrise ran a story based on research from Sydney (I cannot find the exact source online anywhere) that insinnuated that the ban contributes to the world's waste crisis, citing numbers such as:

  • cotton bags have to be used 131 times to be better than a single-use plastic bag

  • the new thicker plastic bags have to be used four times; and

  • paper bags have to be used three times to be worthwhile

In addition, the story stated that small single-use garbage bags have increased by 120% since the ban came into place.


I think this story has missed the point entirely and I suspect the study itself has been mis-quoted (as research often is).

To respond to the dot points, I don't personally believe that single use or multi use plastic bags are the answer to any issue presented. While plastic bags CAN be recycled through the RedCycle program, this assums that the majority of Australians know that they must separate these items AND they make the effort to take these items to their local collection point.

Plastic takes up to 1,000 years to decompose (at most conservative, 10 years).

During this time, consider how many animals your single-use (or multi-use) plastic bag kills by either suffocation or accidental consumption.

Cotton takes five to six months to decompose if left in a compost pile or the environment.

This means that even if reusable bags are thrown into landfill at the end of their life cycle, they will quickly be broken down by the environment.

Paper takes two to six weeks to decompose in landfill.

While the preference is on paper being recycled (it reduces energy and virgin material cost), if it goes to landfill, it will quickly breakdown with little risk to wildlife.


I believe that banning plastic bags in Australia is the first step of many towards a sustainable lifestyle for all Australians however I acknowledge the point made that single use garbage bag purchase has increased substantially.


Our alternative for single use plastic bags was to purchase (in bulk to reduce cost AND to decrease shipments) biodegradable and compostable bin liners. I think manufacturers would be wise to recognise the shift in consumer buying power towards more sustainable options and start introducing more options to our grocery shelves.


Obligatory Plea for Comments: do you think the plastic bag ban has had an impact on Australia?

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