garrett wants bags gone by years end, page-3

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) says consumers will be the ones who pay if the Federal Government bans plastic shopping bags.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says he wants a phase out of plastic shopping bags introduced within the year.

The Government is under pressure to act quickly after the Chinese Government yesterday announced plans to ban free plastic shopping bags within six months.

The Association's Richard Evans says retailers have been leading on the issue for over five years with supermarkets already reducing their use of plastic bags by 50 per cent.

"They'll comply, as any legislation will require people to comply, but what will happen is that consumers will pay more," he said.

"You can't legislate to change people's behaviour and that's what we've got here.

"We've got people suggesting that to save the planet you need to legislate - anyone who thinks you can legislate to save the planet is off the planet."

Mr Evans says the Government needs to offer other solutions.

"The issues to us though, is what's the alternative, and where do you draw the line?" he said.

"Do you draw the line at carry bags or what about plastic bags covering dry cleaning, for instance.

"What we need is litter management. Biodegradable bags are being used but there's other alternatives.

"The question is, if you ban plastic bags, what is the alternative - there's been no suggestion from the Government on how to do that."

Mr Garrett will meet his state and territory counterparts in April to discuss introducing a phase-out by the end of the year.

Dave R