Plastic shopping bags could soon be banned in Leederville, Mt Lawley and North Perth after City of Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan said she was in favour of replicating draft laws passed by Fremantle council.
Ms MacTiernan, who chairs the WA Local Government Association waste advisory council, met Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt last week and will order a report into whether the draft laws could work for the inner-city suburbs in Vincent, which stretches from Mt Hawthorn to East Perth.
“It’s very plausible and very workable,” she said. “I’m keen to take it to our council and see if our people are prepared to come on board.
“It makes a huge amount of sense, it’s not onerous and we don’t believe it would be an impost.”
The City of Nedlands is also understood to be considering a ban.
Fremantle’s laws, which were voted through to the public comment phase last Tuesday, would ban non-biodegradable, lightweight plastic bags such as those supermarkets use.
They would apply to single-use plastic bags of less than 60 microns, with a $150 penalty per breach for retailers who failed to comply.
Bags which were compostable or made of thicker plastic could be sold for at least 10¢.
Dr Pettitt said the State Government could override the laws but he was confident they were legally sound.
He welcomed Ms MacTiernan’s support and hoped other councils would follow.
Local Government Association president Troy Pickard, the mayor of Joondalup, said the association was monitoring the situation.
“Ultimately, a blanket ban would need State legislation but if Fremantle’s law is passed, then there could be a broader call for the State to introduce it,” he said.
Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the Government was awaiting a review into the South Australian legislation before determining its stance.
‘It makes a huge amount of sense … we don’t believe it would be an impost.‘“Vincent mayor * Alannah MacTiernan.
