South Australia To Ban Plastic Bags Beginning In 2009 - AFP

[hatrack]

South Australia state said Thursday it would ban plastic bags from next year after a meeting of environment ministers failed to agree on a national programme to address the issue.

The state announced it would go it alone after federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett ruled out imposing a levy on plastic bags and set up a working group on the matter instead.

"After six years ... we're still unable to come to a nationally consistent approach," state environment minister Gail Gogo said. "But South Australia can hold its head high. We will bring about a ban."

The federal government in Canberra announced in January that it hoped to phase out plastic bags from shopping centres by the end of the year.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Australian_state_to_ban_plastic_bags_999.html

[LeftCoast]

1. SF banned them just recently and I've already started noticing not seeing them blown around

It's great! I hope this happens in a lot more places.

[TomInTib]

2. Our grocery store is now charging for paper bags.

We were the first town in the US to ban plastic bags. We also have no use of trans-fats in our restaurants. But we can drink in the streets.

It is really cool to see almost everyone walk out of the store with canvas bags full of groceries.

The tourists get a little bent out of shape, though.