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Fremantle tackles plastic bags use

As part of making Fremantle a plastic bag free city by 2008, a market research study of consumer attitudes has been undertaken to see how many people are using alternatives to plastic bags.

In a joint project between the City of Fremantle and research student Ivonna Danbergs, 92 residents were asked about their shopping habits in Fremantle. Ivonna is a Flinders University research student who was undertaking part of her studies at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Survey participants were asked how many plastic bags they used each week and if they were prepared to change to alternative bags. The survey found plastic bags are still widely used with 24 per cent of those surveyed collected more than six bags on each shopping trip, 62 per cent collected one to five and 14 per cent collected none. But 38 per cent of survey participants were already using alternative bags while 23 per cent reported occasional use.

Ivonna Danbergs said the ready availability of plastic bags, their convenience and the difficulties arising from forgetting to take alternative bags rated as the key barriers to switching over to alternative bags.

“Despite this, 93 per cent said they would be prepared to use alternative bags,” she said. City of Fremantle Plastic Bag Free Project Officer, Kylie Payne, said the results of the survey were encouraging, suggesting attitudes towards plastic bags were beginning to shift with people already using alternative bags.

In addition to the consumer study, more than 140 retailers in the City of Fremantle have been asked about their plastic bag use and the alternatives they offer – in February, more than 300,000 plastic bags were used each week. But Kylie Payne said many retailers were keen to make a change to support the plastic bag free city initiative and several businesses were already offering alternative bags, such as the popular green shopping bags, calico or paper bags.

“If each person took one less plastic bag each week, Fremantle would save more than 25,000 bags a week, reducing the amount of litter and the likelihood of plastic bags being ingested by sea animals,” Kylie Payne said.

The World Wide Fund for Nature estimates that more than 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and birds die every year as a result of plastic bags.

For more information, contact Kylie Payne on (08) 9432 9959 or email kyliep@fremantle.wa.gov.au

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