31 October 2011 the last day for light plastic shopping bags

Jim Jones said :

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.

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 :

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.

+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 :

Real change will have occurred when people are eating seasonal local produce instead of produce that’s been trucked back and forth across the country for weeks.

The government will need to do this by:
– increasing taxes on freight so the rest of us stop subsidising road maintenance for the benefit of trucks
– increasing the availability of land for growing food on – release land for market-gardens and put an end to postage-stamp-sized blocks with over-sized houses on them
– increased funding for education to teach children and adults the basics of horticulture and agriculture

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 :

What is this ‘newspaper’ that you speak of?

It’s wonderful stuff. I print all my Google News articles on A3 so I can wrap up more tampons.

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 :

Let me get this straight, because you won’t get some plastic bags free at the supermarkets anymore:

– the elderly will be driven to the poor house
– we’ve become a totalitarian state
– and, finally, we should never bother taking small steps to address environmental problems

Is that right?

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 :

However, what about situations where you make an impromptu run into the shop. Such as:
1. You get off the bus after work. You have a 5/10 minute walk home. You then decide to duck into the supermarket to get milk, bread, eggs, vegemite. Not a major shop, but you can’t really carry these items by yourself..

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 :

I think the point is, that this small step isn’t actually going to achieve anything.

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 :

I tend to use plastic bags as bait when fishing for endangered sea turtles.

Not sure what i’ll use now.

Tampons, naturally.

sepi said :

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.

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 :

This is becomming a totalitarian fascist state.

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 :

What is this ‘newspaper’ that you speak of?

It’s wonderful stuff. I print all my Google News articles on A3 so I can wrap up more tampons.

What’s black and white and read all over! Ha!

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 :

Jim Jones said :

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?

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.

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 :

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?

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 :

Oh all thses poor souls getting their knickers in a twist about losing their precious bin liners and actually having to purchase some. Boo fricken hoo. All you need is one bin inside the house, the type of bin liners for that bin are already sold in the supermarket. You will actually spend money to buy them and just have to get off your lazy asses and walk to it to dispose of your waste.

bd84, you like many others on here just don’t get it. The purchase of bin liners is NOT the issue. I couldn’t care less if there were only 1cent for 1000 bags. I will buy them in future and then use them as bin liners (I will not walk out to my green bin every time, especially at night in mid winter as some on here have suggested)….these bags will then end up as land fill just like the shopping bags do currently. How banning of some bags but allowing the purchase of others will save the planet is beyond me?!!?