Plastic bags could be going...

Plastic out, biodegradable bags in to reduce landfill

Days numbered . . . plan to ban supermarket bags. Photo: Jon Reid
THE state government plans to introduce biodegradable bags to supermarket checkouts and open more waste collection centres to reduce landfill.

They are part of a draft waste avoidance plan to be released today by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. It encourages businesses to recycle more and invest in waste infrastructure.

If the draft is adopted, compostable bags would be trialled in several supermarkets to gauge public acceptance.

Food scraps wrapped in compostable bags would be mixed with garden refuse and councils would be encouraged to combine collections for the two.

''By separating food scraps for compost we can greatly reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill,'' the Environment Minister, Frank Sartor, said.

Plans for a national ban on plastic bags were scrapped in 2008.

South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory have since banned them and Tasmania is expected to legislate next year.

The national technical manager of the recycling company Remondis, Mohan Selvaraj, said it was sensible to run a pilot program because compostable bags had variable success overseas and their strength is questioned.

Mr Sartor said a ban on plastic bags was likely once compostable bags were accepted.

The government will also increase the number of council waste collection centres for difficult items such as gas bottles, car batteries or paint. Talks to oblige manufacturers of problem wastes to help recycle products have become bogged down.

A scheme for electronic waste such as televisions and computers will start next year but there is argument over the cost and impact of so-called extended producer responsibility for other wastes. If there is no progress at a national level by 2013, NSW will introduce its own measures.

There will also be clearer land-use planning guidelines under the action plan in an attempt to attract more investment in recycling facilities.

The manager of sustainability at Veolia Environmental Services, Peter Shmigel, called on the government to follow Victoria and provide infrastructure subsidies. NSW collects more than $300 million a year in landfill levies but reinvests little in recycling, he said.

The action plan is designed to push NSW closer to its goal of recycling about two-thirds of waste by 2014. In 2008-09 the state recycled 59 per cent of the waste generated.

Consultation on the draft plan runs until February, when Mr Sartor will finalise the plan.

Aaron Cook
December 20, 2010 (SMH)