The city of Fremantle will become the first local government in Australia to enforce a law to ban plastic bags.
The port city in Western Australia voted on Wednesday night to introduce a new law banning retailers from providing shoppers with single-use, non-biodegradable plastic bags.
Shop owners who ignore the laws will initially be fined $150; serial offenders could face a fine of up to $2,500.
The mayor of Fremantle, Brad Pettitt, said there was strong business and community support for outlawing plastic bags.
The Western Australian Greens MP, Lynn MacLaren, said banning plastic bags in Fremantle was well overdue.
MacLaren hoped plastic bags would eventually be outlawed in WA.
Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT have all banned them.
PHOTO: There is strong business and community for outlawing plastic bags in Fremantle, says its mayor, Brad Pettitt. Credit: Dave Hunt/AAP
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