Two Australian states have banned the use of disposable lightweight plastic shopping bags as of Sunday, and threatened to punish violators with fines of thousands of dollars.
The ban imposed by the states (Queensland and Western Australia) applies to all states and counties in the country, except New South Wales.
Under the ban, retailers can no longer provide lightweight plastic shopping bags that are less than 35 microns or 035.0 millimeters in thickness - less than a human hair of 60 to120 microns thickness. The Queensland government said it would penalize any store using these plastic bags for up to Australian $6,300 (U.S. $4,600).
Coles, Australia's second-largest retailer, has gradually halted the use of disposable plastic bags starting Sunday, as did major retailers.
Australians were used to consume plastic bags at an amazing rate. According to Clean Up Australia, Australians throw about 7,150 plastic bags per minute.
Queensland used to distribute one billion shopping bags a year, according to government estimates. Terrie-Ann Johnson, managing director of Clean Up Australia, says the ban will have "a big impact."
"About five billion plastic bags are sold each year by Australian retailers. This number will be greatly reduced,” she told the German News Agency.
