Australian Environmental Expert Warns Against Plastic Bag Tax

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

17 January 2003

Speaking to the Australian Associated Press on Thursday, former Chairman of the National Packaging Covenant Group, Bob Beynon warned that the introduction of a plastic bag tax in Australia similar to that introduced last year in the Republic of Ireland is likely to have little effect on the amount of litter created.

Mr Beynon recently urged the government to defer a planned 25 cent levy on plastic bags. This deferral was approved by federal and state environment ministers in December, but retailers were nevertheless cautioned that plastic bag use should be cut by 50% over two years, with the introduction of the tax still a distinct possibility if other measures fail.

However, Mr Beynon told the AAP that, if disposed of in the proper way, plastic shopping bags are in fact an extremely efficient waste material, as they are non-degradable and therefore suitable for landfill disposal.

'Once in landfill, plastic bags have no harmful effects, unlike degrading material, they don't emit methane and other greenhouse gases,' he explained, arguing that the government's focus should instead be on re-educating the Australian populace with regard to the harmful effects of littering on the environment.

'Anecdotal evidence out of Ireland suggests there has been a major reduction in the use of plastic bags in supermarkets but only a marginal effect on the number in the litter stream. A tax on plastic bags will not address the littering issue - the major cause of concern,' he concluded.

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