澳洲或在12个月内完全禁止商家提供塑料袋

New rules ... plastic shopping bags may be banned from Australia by the end of the year

据2008年1月10日《悉尼晨锋报》报道，澳洲将在今年年底前全面禁止商家为顾客提供购物塑料袋，或者以征收重税的方法代替。

Good, bad & ugly
- The energy consumed in the life cycle of a plastic bag is estimated to be equivalent to 13.8 millilitres of crude oil, or about a teaspoonful.
- Between 3.9 billion and 4.5 billion plastic bags were thought to have been used in Australia in 2005.
- 34 per cent fewer bags were used in 2005 than in 2002.
- Most lightweight plastic bags used in Australia are made overseas.