Plastic Bags - Just Say NO

In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year. When you are asked if you would like a plastic bag JUST SAY NO and bring a reusable bag instead.

Across Victoria, communities are undertaking the Plastic Bag Free Challenge to reduce the number of plastic bags they use.
Why do I need to reduce my plastic bag use?
In Australia:
~ Around 80 million plastic bags per year end up as litter in the environment that cost the state and local governments over $200 million a year to pick up.
~ We used around 5.6 billion plastic shopping bags in 2004.
~ Over 200, 000 plastic bags are sent to landfill every hour that can take between 15 and 1000 years to break down.

How can I reduce my plastic bag use?
Just say NO to plastic bags and bring a reusable bag instead!
By remembering to take a reusable bag with you when you go shopping, you are helping to reduce:
the resources used to make single use plastic bags - nine plastic bags contain enough petroleum to drive a car one kilometre!
the amount of waste going to landfill
the possibility of your bag ending up as litter in the environment

Some communities have already achieved a plastic bag free environment...why can't Emerald?

Degradable vs. Biodegradable. It is easy to be confused about which is the right alternative to single use plastic bags. Degradable simply means that the plastic in the bag will breakdown into smaller plastic pieces - which still get caught up in the food chain of our wildlife. Biodegradable means that the plastic will break down into watery-type organic matter. If in doubt, bring along reusable bags!

Reusable bags available include Green Bags, baskets, boxes, paper bags, calico bags, string (usually jute) bags to name a few. Check out the following website also :www.ecosilkbags.com.au for something a bit different!

It is NOT reusable if you leave it at home or in the car!

Information presented:- Courtesy of Sustainability Victoria