[Greens-Media] Environment Ministers dodge action on plastic bags, recycling

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Thursday, 17 April 2008

Environment Ministers dodge action on plastic bags, recycling

The failure of environment ministers to take action on plastic bags and
recycling underscores their hopeless capture by the big food and
beverage corporations, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said today.

"This is a plastic-wrapped, recycled failure to take action. With the
exception of South Australia, it is no different to repeated failures to
take action by Howard-era ministers for the environment," Senator Brown
said.

"Australians throw away 4 billion plastic bags every year. The ministers
have instead decided to continue to support voluntary action from
retailers, which last year saw plastic bag use skyrocket by almost 40%."

The Greens support an outright ban or a levy and have re-introduced a
private members' bill to the Senate which applies a 25c levy on plastic
bags. Similar levies have reduced the use of plastic bags by up to 90%
in countries like Ireland. 

"Shoppers who don't want to pay a levy would have the option of bringing
their own 'green', canvas or string bags to the shops," Senator Brown
said.

Senator Brown also said the Australian Greens were working with state
Greens parliamentarians to introduce state and federal legislation to
pave the way for a national container deposit scheme. 

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603
 



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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185	

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