Freo bans plastic bags

The City of Fremantle would become be the first Australian council to outlaw single-use plastic shopping bags under plans to turn long-standing policy into law.

The council's strategic and general services committee has voted unanimously to create a local law targeting non-biodegradable, lightweight plastic bags commonly found at supermarket check-outs.

Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt said yesterday that the law, which would possibly extend to all plastic bags, would draw on legislation passed in South Australia, the Northern Territory and ACT.

In those jurisdictions, customers pay a check-out levy for biodegradable bags or are encouraged to buy reusable green bags.

Dr Pettitt said after a phase-in period, including an extensive education campaign, penalties would apply.

"We're really responding to our community wanting this," he said, referring to lobbying by community group Plastic Free Freo.

"We had the community come to us, with the vast majority of businesses within the Fremantle CBD asking for this."

Fremantle made headlines in 2005 when it endorsed a strategy to achieve a plastic bag-free city.

However, it has conceded it was unlikely to achieve this aim with a voluntary scheme.

Towns such as Coles Bay in Tasmania and Mogo in southern NSW have gone plastic bag-free since 2003 but Planet Ark said Fremantle would be the first council to enforce this policy with a local law.

Dr Pettitt said the council's legal advice was that it could be done.

He said it would also switch to biodegradable dog refuse bags, costing an extra $45,000 annually for 500,000 bags used each year.

Planet Ark estimates Australians use about 3.9 billion lightweight plastic bags a year.

Head of campaigns Brad Gray said he hoped Fremantle's efforts were followed by a Statewide approach. "They're pretty much leading the way," he said.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the Government was monitoring the plastic bag ban in SA, including the outcome of a review currently under way.

National retailers such as Target and Bunnings have stopped providing free plastic bags.

However, a Woolworths spokesman said it preferred any change to be implemented at a State level.

"Having different processes in place for different stores is going to add to the complexity of how any major retailer runs its operations," he said.