What Does the Single Use Plastic Bag Ban Mean?

A huge win for comedy for starters.

The single use plastic bag ban is settling in with surprisingly few issues. If international media is to be believed, there's been the odd punch up, staff person's neck grabbed and a bit of whinging, but considering the millions of people affected, it's been much less of a scrum than originally feared.

Of course, not everyone is happy and the stupidity of their unhappiness is manna from heaven for comedians. The big winner was the backfired Woolworths PR manoeuvre of offering for free their 15 cent plastic bags for an extra time.

Kitty Flanagan took to the offer like the the pro she is, with a raft of comparatively sane suggestions on ABC's 'The Weekly'. Video below, but I am seriously inclined to suggest that someone give her a real PR job. Those years at Utopia have clearly taught her plenty.

While the ban on single use plastic bags is fodder for hilarity, it's also extremely important for the future of our oceans, the animals that live there (and don't eat plastic bags), along with the entire oceans eco system.

Australia's ban clearly isn't solving the entire global problem, but we have joined a growing raft of nations banning single use plastic and of course it all adds up. 

In terms of what this ban means, here is the summary of the situation.

First, know this isn't a ban on all plastic bags - just the thin ones. The thicker plastic bags are still available, but  the single ones are by far the worst offenders.

FROM JULY 1ST, 2018, THE THIN, LIGHT WEIGHT (35 MICRONS) SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS WILL NO LONGER BE SUPPLIED FREE OF CHARGE ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA (IN STORE OR ONLINE). BE AWARE THAT THE BAN INCLUDES COMPOSTABLE, BIODEGRADABLE AND DEGRADABLE HDPE PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS.

THERE IS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN NSW, BUT BOTH WOOLWORTHS AND COLES HAVE BOTH STOPPED SUPPLY OF BAGS ANYWAY, DESPITE THERE BEING NO REQUIREMENT TO DO SO.

People will however be able to purchase thicker plastic bags. This concession has been roundly met with cynicism by many treehuggers. And fair enough too. But it's important to realise that the 30 micron bag ban takes out 7 billion plastic bags and that is a huge start.

By creating change, the ban starts discussion (!) and sets up an easier path to more use of reusables and less planet pollution - both in bags and the use of petrochemicals in their making. The shift also introduces the opportunity to focus on other packaging, sorely in need of attention.

The two supermarket chains also have other plans to reduce plastic packaging or recycle it more usefully and these are the ones we are across. 

Woolworths haven't had the best record in recycling their soft plastics, but now claim to have REDCycle soft plastic bins in all supermarkets.

Woolworths have committed to removing all plastic straws from sale by the end of 2018.

Woolworths is also trialling the removal of plastic packaging from fruit, which one can only hope expands.

Coles has been recycling soft plastics through REDCycle for some time.

Coles and are working on other initiatives to reduce in store packaging and is now planning to swap out their polystyrene PS-E 6 meat and poultry trays for a recyclable version. (Presumably however the cling wrap is still the same.)

So, in the end, does it really matter that there is still a long way to go? Of course it does, but we are still better off. And there are a few key reasons, we should all be happy:

1. Once a checkout chick or bloke has to ask you for money for a bag, they will also ask if you actually want one. (Frankly, pretty much every one of them that I talk to, hate bags, so you might find a happier checkout person for free instead of the bag.)
2. Once a person has to pay for a bag, they will take fewer bags.
3. Once a person has to think about taking a bag, they might even begin to think about where the bag goes next.
4. Once a person pays a few times for a bag, they are more likely to buy a proper reusable one.
5. Thicker plastic bags have more utility and will last longer, even as they are still plastic.

Soft plastics are still recycled at Coles & Woolworths stores through REDCycle. Check recycling locations for your closest. 

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