» Can reusable polypropylene bags (or resuable bags) be recycled?
» What are the benefits of reusable bags?
» Why should I pay for a reusable bag if I can get a plastic bag for free?
» What can I use for my garbage bin instead of reusing my plastic shopping bags?
» What can I use to pick up dog poo instead of reusing my shopping bags?
» Should I use degradable plastic bags?
» Find out more
Can reusable polypropylene bags (or reusable bags) be recycled?
Polypropylene bags, commonly referred to as green bags, are the reusable bags commonly sold by retailers. Polypropylene is a type of plastic and therefore is recyclable through supermarket plastic bag recycling bins.
What are the benefits of reusable bags?
- they have a much lower life cycle impact than any single-use bag
- hold around twice as many items as plastic bags
- are easier to carry as they have more comfortable handles
- won't burst under the weight of heavy shopping items such as tins or soft drinks
- reduce the number of plastic bags that are produced, recycled and disposed of
Why should I pay for a reusable bag if I can get a plastic bag for free?
Plastic bags are not free to consumers - the cost is hidden in the price of your groceries, as well as in your rates and taxes due to the cost of picking them up as litter.
Reusable bags do cost more to purchase and this cost is often more than most retail outlets can absorb. Paying a small amount for reusable bags will also encourage you to remember them when you go shopping. They last a long time, making them a sound investment for you and the environment.
What can I use for my garbage bin instead of reusing my plastic shopping bags?
There are a number of alternatives to using plastic shopping bags in your bin. Use other types of bags, such as bread bags, fruit and veggie bags, chip bags, dog food bags and pasta bags or try lining it with old newspaper. If possible, use a compost bin or worm farm for your food and garden waste - this can reduce the amount of waste in your rubbish bin by up to 50% and takes out the 'wet' messy waste in your bin.
Buying bin liners will provide a financial incentive for you to reduce the amount of waste you generate, while still helping to cut the number of plastic bags used due to their larger size.
What can I use to pick up dog poo instead of reusing my shopping bags?
Picking up after your dog is very important as dog poo left on the street ends up in our waterways, contributing to E. coli pollution and possibly passing roundworm onto humans. Many people use their plastic shopping bags to pick up their dog poo, but there are many other plastic bags that come into our lives that are also suitable for picking up dog poo. Bread bags, fruit and veggie bags, chip bags, dog food bags, pasta bags... the list is almost endless! Alternatively, you could try using newspaper or a pooper scooper.
Important Note: Do not compost dog poo as it can cause disease.
Should I use degradable plastic bags?
While degradable plastic shopping bags might seem like a good idea, there are a number of things to consider with their use.
- Degradable bags require energy, water and materials in their production and are still used only once, so substituting billions of shopping bags with billions of degradable bags isn't a great environmental outcome.
- Using degradable shopping bags may promote littering as people may think the bags will break down in the environment no matter how they are disposed of.
- Until degradable products actually break down they still pose the same danger as non-degradable plastic bags and hence have the same short term potential to harm wildlife and create litter problems.
Find out more
Say No to Plastic Bags - An initiative between Clean Up Australia, the Australian Retailers Association and the Australian Government
Environment Protection and Heritage Council - A national approach to the management of plastic bags
Department of Environment and Heritage - Plastic bags
Top | Last updated 04/09/2007
