Analysis of Plastic Bag Ban Impact in Australia: A Report

This report analyzes the plastic bag ban implemented by the Australian government, examining the sustainability issues that led to the ban. It explores the environmental impact of plastic bags, including their non-biodegradable nature and contribution to pollution, and the government's efforts to reduce plastic waste. The report discusses the ban's implementation across different states, the public's response, and the economic and environmental benefits of the ban. It also covers the importance of recycling programs, consumer awareness, and the need for a uniform national approach. The report concludes that the plastic bag ban is transforming Australia, reducing landfill waste, and promoting a cleaner environment. Various sources, including books, journals, and online articles, are referenced to support the analysis.

PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG
WAS BAN BY THE STATES
GOVERNMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Sustainability issue leading to plastic ban in Australia...............................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Sustainability is very important term for future people as it had been kept on stake by
present generations, so for improving this various countries and states are taking different steps
such as ban of plastic bags and many more. The present report is analysing and reflecting various
contemporary sustainability communication strategies which had been completed for reviewing
strategies of communication for optimising different new media outlet. Further it is discussing
about main purpose and messages with specific perspective of sustainable development.
MAIN BODY
Sustainability issue leading to plastic ban in Australia
There is presence of various countries which had banned use of plastic bags along with
huge retailers as it helps in introducing a specific charge for reusable bags for motivating
shoppers to get their own (Mortimer and Russell-Bennett, 2018). In this series Australia had also
joined this list as in 2009 state government had become first nation for introducing ban on plastic
bags of single use. It had been initiated because of presence of 400 million plastic bags which are
non-biodegradable and entering in local environment and on basis of nation it bins around 4
billion. As before the ban, population had responded on basis of different retailers which would
end civilisation and create harm for business perspective It could also provide benefit to
economy along with environment as it could frame recycling industry as huge fundraiser for
various sports, charities and clubs.
The specific purpose of this ban is awareness about clean and greener future. It would
encourage for bags which are recyclable and biodegradable (Rebecca Puddy, 2018). People
would be facing difficulty at initial level but they would adjust by considering reasons. In 2011,
ban was in Northern territory for single use carry bags of plastic, in 2013, Tasmania had
followed this ban and recently on 1 July Queensland and Western Australia had introduced this
plastic ban. Huge focus had been required for New South Wales which is coming in different
jurisdictions which is also referred as determination of impact of plastic bags which are heavier
and handed in various supermarkets with other retailers.
It had been interpreted from survey of Annual plastic recycling from year 2017, plastic of
3.5 million tonnes is used in 2016-17 in Australia (Malcolm Farr, 2018). While excluding tyres,
293900 tons of plastic which is recycled in similar duration as it had been dropped by 10% on
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basis of past year. In the same series, there is presence of 175 million of heavy duty plastic bags
which are thicker and had been issued in 2016-17 throughout the Australia. 30 tonnes around 5.7
billion thinner single bags were given to various customers. It had been identified that New
South Wales is considered as highest consumption of plastic in previous year along with
residents which are accounting 1.12 million of i tonnes of plastic (Jessie Yeung, 2018). Victoria
consists of the highest amount for recycling which had been generated on per capita at 25.6 kg in
each year as huge amount had been produced from producing scrap. The trend had been followed
by South Australia along with 22 Kg which is recycled on basis of per person and year.
From decades, scientific evidence had been growing and pollution which had been
creating form plastic is major and raising issue. An event had been named as “Clean up
Australia” which signifies that in each year 6 million tonnes of rubbish has been dumped in
world's ocean in which huge proportion of 80% is plastic and remaining 10% is of mouldable
bags. More than one million seabirds are killed from plastic and along with 100000 sea
mammals. It might create painful injury or death to Seabirds, whales and turtles by consuming
rubbish food. On basis of different staggering rate, plastic bags were used by Australians as they
had thrown 7150 recyclable mouldable bags in per minute along with 429000 recyclable
supermarket bags of plastic were directly dumped in landfill in per hour (Schuyler and et.al.,
2018).
It had been estimated by Queensland government that 1 billion shopping bags are
implicated in stated at per year which is polluting approx. 16 million to environment. As per
estimate of government of WA 7 million had been used. The authority of 2016 NSW
Environment protection had properly reviewed its estimate about plastic bags in quantity of 2
billion which had been directly consumed in every year along this recycle of 14%. On basis of its
outcome, it had been justified that social media campaigns and environmental groups had pushed
for taking action for decreasing use of plastic in nationwide.
There is presence of various evidence for ridding single use bags leads in context of
outcome of positive environment. But on its contrary, uniform and national approach is required
which could be easily supported through education along with consumer awareness programs.
There are various state and territory where government had legislated for ban of plastic bags
such as Victoria but it did not come into effect because of absence of consumer support
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(Knoblauch, Mederake and Stein, 2018). There should be proper distribution of net earning
which had been gained from sale of option of bag which could be reusable and it must be
channelled in various programs of sustainability, education schemes and research grants. There is
requirement of programs which must be benchmarked, measured and announced publicly
(Plastic bag ban, 2018).
CONCLUSION
From the above report it could be concluded that ban of plastic bag is transforming as
benefit for states of Australia and other countries as well. It would directly impact environment
as specific amount of plastic which had been consigned for landfill as it could slog water
courses, fauna and flora for eternity as it had been decreased by at least a third. It could be
justified from above report that highest consumption of plastic bags has been gained by
Australia. For ridding it various states such as Queensland and many more had adopted “Clean
up Australia” as it is creating sense by not giving any negative impact on lifestyles of human
rights.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Knoblauch, D., Mederake, L. and Stein, U., 2018. Developing Countries in the Lead—What
Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies? Sustainability. 10(6). pp.1-24.
Schuyler, Q. and et. al., 2018. Economic incentives reduce plastic inputs to the ocean. Marine
Policy.
ONLINE
Jessie Yeung. 2018. Australia is banning plastic bags. [Online] Available
through:<https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/02/australia/australia-plastic-bag-ban-intl/
index.html>
Malcolm Farr. 2018 Proof bag ban has become ridiculous. [Online] Available
through:<https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/proof-plastic-bag-ban-doesnt-mean-
the-end-of-the-w/3483192/>
Mortimer and Russell-Bennett. 2018. Why plastic bag bans triggered such a huge reaction.
[Online] Available through:<http://theconversation.com/why-plastic-bag-bans-triggered-
such-a-huge-reaction-99935>
Plastic bag ban. 2018. [Online] Available through:<https://www.sbs.com.au/news/plastic-bag-
ban-are-you-across-the-1-july-changes>
Rebecca Puddy. 2018. Plastic bag bans. [Online] Available
through:<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-08/former-south-australian-premier-calls-for-
bag-ban-courage/10077764>
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