Victorian shoppers will still get plastic bags after state government leniency
Single-use plastic bags are set to be banned from November 1, however a backflip by the state government will see Victorian businesses continue to offer the bags.
VIC News
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Millions of single-use plastic bags will continue to be handed out to shoppers despite a statewide ban next month after the state government backflipped on its hard line new law.
Retailers are unlikely to be fined if they flout the ban amid fears businesses are not ready for the new laws.
Victorian shops can face penalties of up to $49,500 if they provide lightweight plastic bags to customers after November 1 but authorities are initially expected to take a lenient approach.
The Herald Sun can reveal Bakers Delight has already been given permission to continue offering 1.6 million reusable bags for several months after warning the government it would otherwise have to send them to landfill.
The exemption could open the door for other retailers to delay compliance with the ban, promised two years ago by the state government, as industry figures say smaller businesses such as takeaway shops are not even aware of the laws.
Premier Daniel Andrews denied a backflip and said Victoria was leading the way with environmentally-friendly policies.
“This is a very big change and we are taking a common sense approach,” he said.
“This has been driven by customers mainly. Customers want to see this change made and we have changed the law to effect to tha, but it does take time.
“It is a massive adjustment particularly for smaller retailers and that’s why the important thing is not to have a punitive approach, but to work with industry.
“In the first few months of a significant change you need to take that common sense approach, but I am very confident that retailers, service providers and businesses will provide to their customers what their customers want and that is an environmentally-friendly outcome.”
Bakers Delight placed a bulk order for reusable 35-micron bags in May last year and began charging customers for them, leading to a 61 per cent reduction in plastic bag purchases.
But all bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less will be illegal from next month, prompting the company to ask for a grace period which was granted by the Environment Protection Authority last week.
Bakers Delight joint chief executive Elise Gillespie said the business supported the ban but that forcing it to throw out its bags would have been even worse for the environment.
She said the transition period until March next year was sought as a “common sense” solution.
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said he had “major concerns” that a “vast number of retailers” did not know about the ban, particularly small and independent businesses.
He said extensions would have to be granted to other retailers — although it is understood no other requests have been made to the EPA so far.
“We’re very worried about how this is going to be handled by the Victorian government,” Mr Zimmerman said.
“They will need to give some leniency … If they come down strong and heavy, it’s going to create some backlash.”
A government spokeswoman said on Monday: “Our focus for the first months after the ban comes into effect will be on educating and engaging businesses, supporting them to comply.”
The November 1 implementation date was confirmed by the government in June this year as the National Retailers Association was contracted to ensure businesses were ready for the ban.
Over the last six months, the NRA has visited more than 180 shopping centres and precincts to help retailers with the transition.
“We’ve been working closely with businesses to plan for the ban and continue to look at ways we can reduce other types of plastic pollution across Victoria,” a government spokeswoman said.
“Baker’s Delight will be able to run down existing stock of 35 micron bags, purchased before the bag ban was announced.”
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Opposition wastewatch spokesman James Newbury said the Coalition was “absolutely committed to the phasing out of plastic bags”.
“It’s something we all care passionately about, but it’s important that businesses are consulted and given the chance to transition to a cleaner future without excessive waste,” he said.
“It doesn’t help the economy nor the environment to see tonnes of plastic sent to landfill.”
An educational website set up by the NRA says: “If you are left with unused stock once the ban comes into effect, you cannot provide these to customers and compensation is not available.”