International News - Aussie ministers plan to phase out plastic bags

Australian politicians have put the finishing touches to proposals designed to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.

However, they have refused to impose a 25 cents-a-bag levy amid fears it would dampen consumer spending.

Environment ministers from Australia's states and territories met last week in an effort to cut the country's annual consumption of 6.9 billion single-use bags. Instead of introducing a levy, they formulated a phase-out plan aimed at halving the use of bags by December 2005.

The plan will require retailers to reduce their use of non-biodegradable bags by 25 per cent by the end of next year, 50 per cent by the end of 2005 and completely by 2008.