What's wrong with degradable bags?

Posted: 17.04.09  |  Created by: Do Something

Many Australians think that ‘degradable’ bags are actually ‘biodegradable’ bags. Unfortunately this not the case. In recent years many Australians have been using bags classed as ‘degradable’, but these may be equally as harmful as traditional plastic bags. The Sydney Morning Herald on 17 January 2008 reported that Coles Myer rejected the 'degradable' bags after it funded tests undertaken at Swinburne University in 2005.

Damning findings

The SMH stated that “the results showed the bags did not appear to degrade any faster than standard bags,” and that “researchers at Swinburne also raised concerns about heavy metals added to the bags to help them disintegrate.”

Consumers can therefore be potentially misled into thinking they’re doing something good for the environment when they’re not.

Increased risks

A further concern about ‘degradable’ bags is that if they do break down into smaller pieces of plastic, this may pose a danger to smaller animals that would otherwise be unable to consume a larger plastic bag.

Furthermore, environmentalists have raised the question that because these bags contain heavy metal, what impact will this heavy metal have on wildlife should they ingest this type of plastic?

As a result, any ban or phase-out on plastic bags must also apply to ‘degradable’ plastic bags.

When it comes to single use bags, only paper bags or compostable biodegradable bags that meet Australian Standard AS 4736-2006 should be allowed to be given away or sold in shops.