Change is in the bag, but Australia's lawmakers lag on plastic bans

The environmental and economic case against single-use plastic bags is so compelling that it beggars belief Australia's lawmakers continue to fail to react adequately.

These bags pollute land and sea, waste scarce resources, contaminate the food chain and choke and poison many creatures. Plastic bags are used for a matter of minutes, but can linger as pollution and landfill for many years.

More and more countries are eradicating the problem, primarily through levies or outright bans.

But Australia – one of the wealthiest nations and therefore one with a population less sensitive to waste and the cost of dealing with garbage – is yet to come up with a national strategy.

Read the Editorial in today’s Melbourne Age - “Change is in the bag, but Australia's lawmakers lag on plastic bans.”