When I was in Australia last year, one thing I noticed in their stores was a real commitment to encourage customers to carry re-usable shopping bags rather than paper or plastic. So I'm not surprised to read that the state of South Australia has decided to ban plastic bags at the checkout altogether: after May 2009, any retailers in the state still supplying that form of bag will face a fine of up to AUD $5,000 (US $3594 approx).

As one plastic bag can take 20 years to biodegrade, and even "biodegradable plastic" just breaks down into small plastic shards, environmental campaigners are both welcoming the news and hoping the campaign becomes more widespread, asap.

If you're encouraged to get some reusable bags, I recommend the Onya range for its portability and durability.

Image: Cristen Crochet.