Australia bans more single-use plastics

Australia has introduced a ban on thick plastic shopping bags and mass balloon releases to cut down on single-use plastics.

Authorities in three states are also banning a range of products including plastic cotton buds.

Conservationists have said that Australia has become a world leader in banning single-use plastics.

Scientists say that more than 171 trillion pieces of plastics are estimated to be floating in the world's oceans.