Biodegradable plastic bags

[Terry Pacey <>]

Ralph Reid stated; "The second alternative to my way of thinking is paper, which is biodegradable (and cannot strangle wildlife) whereas plastic is (as yet) not (and can)."

 

This statement is false.  There are plastic products that are fully biodegradable and have been for some time.  Here are just a few sites that mention these plastics, especially as shopping bags.

 

www.abc.net.au/northtas/stories/s707898.htm

 

www.planetark.org/media/PlasticBagBBrownRelease.pdf

 

www.greenplas.com/plastics/biodegradable/

 

www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/12/1044927664103.html

 

www.pacia.org.au/Media/EPHCSubmissionOct02.PDF

 

 

A search using Google or some similar search engine will produce hundreds of references.

 

The latest biodegradable plastics are made from (renewable) vegetable material and break down in three to four weeks.  There appear to be no side effects.  The only problem appears to be the slightly higher price.  It appears that this higher price is no greater than the levy which may or may not work.

 

This problem is a major one for Australia and is very complex.  The simplistic views of some of the Birding-aus members, along with their lack of knowledge of the alternatives, is disappointing.

 

 

Terry Pacey