The millions of plastic bags we use say a lot about our wasteful habits. We use these bags for a few minutes to carry our goods home, but these plastic bags can last for hundreds ofyears.

The millions of plastic bags we use say a lot about our wasteful habits. We use these bags for a few minutes to carry our goods home, but these plastic bags can last for hundreds ofyears.

While it takes a long time to break down plastic, the amount of plastic bags being used continues to grow and this makes for a major environmental problem.

Plastic bag litter creates many problems. They end up as huge amounts of garbage filling our landfills, blocking drains, and trapping small animals like birds. When eaten they kill livestock.

In the marine environment, plastic bag litter is toxic, killing thousands of whales, turtles and other sea life every year.

Doing away with plastic bags is easier than we think. Many local government and town councils around the world have banned plastic check out. If some towns and supermarkets can live without plastic bags, then maybe your neighborhood can, too.

Why are plastic bags a problem?

Plastic bags have long been a waste problem that harm the environment:

1. Every year 20 million Australians use around 5 billion plastic check-out bags. A plastic check-out bag is used only for minutes - i.e. the time it takes to get from the shops to our homes. Plastic bags however, can take between 15 and 1,000 years to break down in the environment.

2. A whale died on a Cairns beach in Australia after ingesting 6 square meters of plasticincluding plastic bags. Such obstructions in animals can cause severe pain, distress and death. After an animal is killed by plastic bags, its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environment where it can kill again.

3. On land, plastic bag litter can block drains and trap birds. They also kill livestock. One farmer in Australia carried out an autopsy  on a dead calf and found 8 plastic bags in its stomach.

Towns Go 'Plastic Bag Free'

Many town councils have gone “Plastic Bag Free”. For example, Planet Ark in Australia has worked with the communities in the states of Tasmania, NSW and Victoria to help them become Plastic Bag Free Towns.

Tips for shoppers

Here are some tips to help you reduce your plastic bag usage:

1. Use reusable bags, boxes, shopping trolleys or a backpack for your shopping. Reusable bags hold 2-3 times more items than a plastic check-out bag - so you have less bags to carry. They last for years and won’t split like a plastic bag.

2. Say “NO” to plastic bags at the check-out if you only have a few items.

3. Reuse plastic bags you have accumulated as garbage liners.

4. Open your eyes to how many plastic shopping bags you have at home. Keep count and try to reduce the number you take home.

5. Spread the word. Ask your local shops to stock plastic bag alternatives if they haven’t already done so and encourage friends and family to also get involved.

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