Councillors will vote on a report to WALGA supporting a uniform approach and possible statewide ban or levy on bags to reduce plastic waste.
The City investigated a plastic bag ban in 2012-2014 but was discouraged by the City of Fremantle’s failed attempt at the ban, due to a lack of State Government support.
Stirling parks and reserves manager Ian Hunter said there were challenges in enforcing the ban for local governments.
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READ NOW“Successful examples, nationally and internationally, of plastic bag regulation occur at a statewide or Federal level,” he said.
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“This ensures a consistent approach for consumers and retailers across local government boundaries.”
Mr Hunter said the City had supported several community projects, which aimed to raise awareness and reduce plastic pollution.
“The City has received positive feedback for its work in this area from residents, cafes, other councils and organisations such as the Keep Australia Beautiful Council and Plastic Free July,” he said.
Curtin University sustainability professor Peter Newman said the community needed to “get rid of plastic” and was positive about a move to ban bags.
“The reusable non-plastic bags will become very popular because plastic bags are going to be banned,” he said.
“That is now clear; from what the State Government has said, that they will not get in the way of councils. They will be banning the plastic bags and that is a widespread, global movement.”