[First filed: Oct 27, 2010 @ 10:31]
Simon Corbell has announced the end of light plastic shopping bags with the final ban to be in place from 1 November next year.
Before panicking bear in mind there will be many exemptions:
The Plastic Shopping Bags Ban Bill 2010 will ban the supply of plastic shopping bags of 35 microns or less, generally the type distributed through supermarkets, grocery stores and takeaway food outlets.
A range of bags will be unaffected by the ban, including barrier bags of the type dispensed from a roll to hold items such as fruit or meat and heavier retail bags used in department, footwear and clothing stores.
The Government expects that retailers will provide a range of bags to consumers to replace light weight plastic bags including reuseable ‘green’ bags, paper bags and biodegradable bags which meet Australian Standard AS 4736-2006. The sale of plastic bin liners for waste containers in the home is unaffected by the ban.
I’m still not sure how we’re getting greasy take-away home without making a mess in the car, but we’re going to find out.
UPDATE: The Greens’ Caroline Le Couteur has expressed her pleasure at this piece of Green policy being adopted.
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Jim Jones said :
How is Nazis riding dinosaurs through rivers of blood a human right abuse? Personally I reckon that would be worth a looksee.
Jim Jones said :
+1
Disabled people can use cloth bags or whatever else type of bag they might own: they’re disabled, not stupid.
It’s easier to carry things with prams (most have ample cargo space).
The elderly are usually much better at planning ahead for shopping trips than their younger cohorts.
Honestly, it’s just getting rid of plastic bags, it’s not some sort of human rights abuse. The sky isn’t going to fall and Nazis won’t be riding dinosaurs through rivers of blood.
Seems Im a bit late to the party, but how will this work for the disabled? Sure, an able-bodied person might be able to easily carry a box or paper bag of their goodies, but what happens for the little old lady on a walking-frame, who needs to buy a couple of items? Does she have to use a box? Does she have to pay 10c, because she is physically unable to carry the items without the assistance of a bag? Is she required to carry her own bags with her, just in-case she decides to make a purchase?
What about people on bicycles? Are you likely to be able to carry a cardboard box on your handlebars? What about parents with prams? Its much easier to hang a plastic bag off the pram handle than balance a box above your baby’s head.
CraigT said :
I was surprised by how many people posting say they buy their veges and fruit from the supermarket. I am not even sure its real food sometimes.
Like this guy says, take your canvas bags to the supermarket.
Woody Mann-Caruso said :
I hope I never meet a woman who uses A3 tampons.
I might only have a wee organ but it was not meant to played in a cathedral…
Jim Jones said :
Not exactly. Small steps such as these are taken in place of much larger and more difficult steps. They replace them. Where is the conversation about limiting economic growth and consumption in general?
It will never occur as long as we think our plastic bag-less, Prius driving, garden composting ‘little steps’ are making a difference.
Or you can use one of the cardboard boxes the supermarket has heaps of.
Frano said :
Yes, you can. You just need to plan ahead. I planned ahead years ago by buying and always travelling with a bag that when empty is light and not too large – but can fit a slab of beer.
This issue is all about forcing change on people. Unfortunately there are plenty of people not keen to otherwise tolerate losing some degree of convenience, or lacking enough foresight to prevent being inconvenienced, and without the imagination to see how easily alternatives can be arranged.
chewy14 said :
Some initiates are just to remind you of a larger problem. (Nudging?) I’m not saying this is one of them, but if people are reminded to ‘save the planet’ every time they buy something, I have no problem with it.
Thumper said :
Tampons, naturally.
sepi said :
I think the last statistic I read was that 80% of households re-used their plastic bags for other purposes (don’t have a source). Obviously that doesn’t account for all plastic bags.
What I really don’t like about this policy is the banning aspect.
I would have no problem if the government was able to put a levy on plastic bags so that those who were using plastic bags had to pay for them.
Unfortunately they don’t have the power to do it.
Proudof Canberra said :
Hahahahahahahaha.
Frano – do you think All plastic shopping bags are used as bin liners? Every single one?
Where is all that rubbish coming from. Surely after you consume all the food you’ve carried home, there should be a bit less to go back out to the bin in the empty bag?
And to those commenting about supermarkets overpackaging food (eg – 8 cheery tomatoes in a plastic tray inside a plastic sleeve etc), I agree. We can go after them next.
Woody Mann-Caruso said :
Bahahahahahahhahaha. Boom tish!
I’m investigating above suggestions to save the enviornment and my counter-top. Now we need suggestions on disposing of cat litter – Yowler Hugankis will only use crystals, and while biodegradeable, have no garden to dump them in. Outside groceries, we don’t shop a lot to be able to get other bags, so how to dispose environmentally? What do others do?
chewy14 said :
It will reduce the amount of plastic bags being used – that’s something.
As others have pointed out, it’s already been successfully implemented in other Australian states, and in other countries (strangely, none of these countries have burst into fire yet).
Jim Jones said :
I think the point is, that this small step isn’t actually going to achieve anything.
It’s not better environmental policy if it doesn’t work.
So, Frano, because one act won’t ‘save the planet’ in and of itself, we should completely give up on making small steps towards better environmental policy?
bd84 said :