It is believed to be one of the simplest ways people can help the environment, but scrapping the plastic shopping bag might not be worth the effort, according to the Australian Government's economic advisory body. It has recommended ditching plans to wipe out more than five billion plastic bags a year, saying the costs may outweigh the benefits.
The plan is supposed to save marine wildlife and reduce litter, but the Productivity Commission argues that not only is the plastic bag not a serious threat to wildlife, but governments have not taken into account the food-safety benefits of plastic bags or their typical re-use as liners for the garbage bin.
I think it is all in the mind and programs like this have value in increasing awareness about our impact on the environment. Perhaps the zero tolerance policy for plastic bags is a bit extreme given their practical use. Perhaps adoption of South Australia's rebate for bottles and cans would be more practical on a national basis.
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