Plastic bag ban 
Media release: The Plastic Bag Ban is coming soon, 12 September 2011
Media release: Plastic bag ban passed by Assembly 7 December 2010
ACT’s Plastic Bag Ban is now in effect and started on 1 November 2011. The ban follows a four month transitional period which began on 1 July.
The consultation process sought views from members of the community about how they use plastic bags in and around the home, as well as their opinions on a possible ban or levy. The plastic bags community consultation was undertaken by consultants Manidis Roberts on behalf of the ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate.
The ban followed a comprehensive study of community attitudes towards the use of plastic bags in the retail environment carried out in August 2009. In December 2010, the ACT Legislative Assembly passed legislation to ban lightweight plastic bags in the ACT. The Plastic Shopping Bags Ban Act 2010 can be downloaded from www.legislation.act.gov.au
A copy of the report is available here.
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(20kb)Information on plastic bag ban available in other languages:
Further information
Useful information for retailers - This is where retailers can find information about the ban and how to prepare for it.
Useful information for the community - This is where the community can find information about the ban including which bags they can and cannot use
Which bags will be banned and which are allowed?
Plastic Bag Ban resources - A range of resources have been developed to help retailers with the phase out of lightweight, checkout-style plastic bags.
Useful information on Australian Standard plastic products - The list is supplied by the Plastic and Chemicals Industry Association and it should be noted that only four products on this list comply with the Australian Standard. The ACT Government does not endorse any suppliers of these products.
