Greens buoyed by Aussie ban on plastic bags

The Greens are fired up by South Australia's ban on plastic bags and hopes New Zealand follows its lead.

From May 4 Australian retailers will be required to offer shoppers alternative forms of packing their purchases.

Greens co-leader Russel Norman says the ban shows environmental leadership on South Australia's part.

He says getting rid of plastic bags is important because in the long run they cause quite a lot of environmental damage.

Mr Norman says New Zealand's approach to the bag issue has been a phasing out process.

He says it is important to have alternatives in place as plastic slowly disappears.

- NEWSTALK ZB