Best alternatives

Posted: 14.04.09  |  Created by:

As an individual, bringing your own bags when you shop ends the need for retailers to provide plastic checkout-style bags. If these bags are no longer being handed out, then plastic bags will no longer plague landfills, litter the environment, interfere with recycling or kill our marine fauna.

When shopping ensure you bring sturdy, reusable bags such as ‘Green Bags’. These bags last for in excess of two years, are easily washed and can be reused time and time again. Other reusable alternatives include baskets, calico or canvas satchels and backpacks.

Even when you forget to bring bags to the shops, insist on taking either paper or compostable (not just 'degradable!') bags. You need to ensure that the biodegradable or compostable bags meet Australian Standard AS 4736-2006 for biodegradable plastics.

At home, abandon lining your garbage bin with plastic bags and instead adopt tried and tested methods incorporating newspaper wrapping and compost. Click here for more information.

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