More than two months after New South Wales banned lightweight plastic bags, not all small businesses have made the switch to paper, fabric or thicker plastic alternatives.
Key points:
- Plastic bags thinner than 35 microns were banned from June 1
- Some stores have struggled to source alternatives
- From November 1, single-use plastic cutlery and straws will be outlawed
From takeaway outlets and convenience stores to school fetes and charity op shops, the entire retail sector is covered by the ban, introduced at the start of June.
NSW is the last state to ditch the disposable bags — a move supported by the state’s retail industry — but the plastic bag has not disappeared yet.
Why are some shops still using plastic bags?
The National Retail Association has been advising thousands of businesses on making the change.
Project manager Ebony Johnson told ABC Sydney most have embraced the change, but there were some “teething issues”.
Some have been hit by supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, delaying the arrival of alternatives to the plastic bags.
Other small businesses that may have sold less than expected during the pandemic were sitting on large amounts of plastic bags when the new rules kicked in.
Businesses flouting the ban face ends up to $250,000.
There is no official grace period, but the Environment Protection Agency did not say if any fines or warnings had been issued.
“The EPA has been focusing on educating and supporting businesses to transition away from single-use plastic bags,” an EPA spokesperson said.
Boomerang Alliance director Jeff Angel said it was a “mixed picture” of compliance.
“We have heard about some shops claiming their bags are one micron thicker than the banned ones… which of course means it’s still a lightweight polluting bag,” Mr Angel said.
But he agreed education was the priority at this stage rather than late, suggesting the amount of information provided to retailers in the lead-up to the June 1 ban was inadequate.
Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger also believes education is the key.
“The best way we can ensure a smooth transition away from single-use plastics is education and communication with businesses — particularly small businesses,” Mr Borger said.
“Small businesses need support during this transition phase. They have been grappling with downturns during COVID, supply chain issues and increased costs.”
Which plastic bags are still allowed?
The ban does not cover thin produce bags without handles, known as “barrier bags”, found in the fruit and vegetable sections of supermarkets.
Only lightweight plastic bags — 35 microns in weight or less — with handles are prohibited.
Thicker plastic bags are still allowed, with the idea that they are reusable, although there is a push to ban these too.
Western Australia has already banned them, and supermarket giant Woolworths has announced plans to ditch them from stores across the country by the end of 2023.
Boomerang Alliance, which represents dozens of environment groups concerned about packaging and plastic waste, is calling for a national standard to be set for reusable bags to prevent companies simply “greenwashing”.
The ban does include so-called biodegradable, compostable and degradable bags as they only break down when specially treated in an industrial compost facility.
What should customers do?
Ms Johnson encouraged customers to bring their own bags, just as many shoppers already do when they go to the supermarket.
“The best bag is the one that you use the most amount of times. So, if that’s plastic, and a thicker weight plastic, it’s just about how often you use it, whether it’s paper, fabric or plastic.”
The retail association advised consumers to expect the cost of reusable bags or other alternatives which are more expensive to be passed on.
“We all think twice when we have to pay for something,” Ms Johnson said. “We’re all human, we forget sometimes, so try to remember a little bit more but be prepared to pay if you do forget.”
What will be phased out next?
From November 1, single-use cutlery, plates and straws and containers without lids will also be banned.
The NSW government estimates the ban on single-use plastic products will remove almost 2.7 billion items from the environment over the next 20 years.
However, environmental campaigners have slammed the EPA for granting a two-year exemption for plastic-lined paper plates and bowls, such as “party” plates with patterns, pictures or colors printed on them.
An EPA spokesperson says the exemption is in response to feedback from suppliers and manufacturers that there is a lack of suitable food-safe printed alternatives.
Boomerang Alliance’s Jeff Angel says there is nothing to stop producers ordering and supplying more plastic-lined products once they use up their existing stock.
“When other states ban these before we do, they’ll be dumped in NSW,” Mr Angel said.
“NSW is on a go-slow really.”
Western Australia has banned plastic-lined plates and bowls and Victoria and South Australia have proposed the same ban.
Queensland is not currently enforcing its ban due to the lack of alternatives.
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