New push for bag ban

NEWS that France will ban single use plastic bags in supermarkets by 2016 has renewed calls for Southern Downs residents to act on the environmental menace.
The French ban follows a similar ban in California.
Other countries that have banned the bag include Ireland, Spain, South Africa and Nepal. In Australia there are bans in South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the ACT.
“According to the latest National Litter Index (2014) published by Keep Australia Beautiful, Queensland is the most littered mainland state with plastic litter and cigarette butts being the major culprits,” executive director of Queensland Conservation Toby Hutcheon said.
The South Australian Government estimates its ban removes 400 million bags every year from the environment.
Mr Hutcheon said Queensland Conservation was aware that the Department of Environment and Heritage had a prepared public discussion paper on options for plastic bags and plastic litter that could be released before Christmas.
He said Premier Campbell Newman quashed its original proposed release in July 2013.
“The only reason it could not be released is the lack of political will by the Premier,” he said.
“It is time for Campbell Newman to give the green light to this Discussion Paper.”
A motion for the State Government to act on plastic bags and plastic litter will be discussed at the Local Government Association of Queensland Conference in Mackay on 27-29 October.
It is estimated Australians use over four billion plastic bags per year. They have an estimated useful life of 12 minutes and last thousands of years in the environment.