Victoria’s plastic bag ban: What does it mean for you?

VICTORIAN shoppers are about to experience a big change as Coles and Woolworths prepare to remove single-use plastic bags from their stores. What does it mean for you?

About 1.6 billion single-use plastic shopping bags are used in Victoria each year. Picture: Jay Town.

VICTORIAN shoppers are about to experience a big change as Coles and Woolworths prepare to remove single-use plastic bags from their stores.

The Victorian government has also announced plans to enforce a statewide ban on the lightweight plastic bags.

About 1.6 billion single-use plastic shopping bags are used in Victoria each year.

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When does it start?

The ban comes into effect at Woolworths on Wednesday June 20 and Coles on Sunday July 1.

As part of the Woolworths plan, Big W, Metro and BWS stores will also stop using the bags.

The Coles ban will affect Coles Express, Liquorland and First Choice Liquor.

The Victorian government is yet to reveal when it will enforce the wider ban.

But that statewide ban will not include small bags used to carry meat and fruit and vegetables, or heavy plastic bags used as at electronics stores or fashion retailers.

South Melbourne market outlawed single-use bags in April and is now offering customers the option to borrow a tote bag or providing old-fashioned paper bags.

But it will be business as usual for Aldi, which only offers reusable bags to its shoppers.

What does it mean for shoppers?

Both Coles and Woolworths are offering customers reusable heavy-duty plastic bags for 15 cents each.

The supermarkets will also sell their usual green fabric bags, with Woolworths offering those bags for 99 cents each.

Shoppers are urged to bring their reusable bags each time they shop.

Why ban the bags?

Victoria’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said banning single-use bags will “slash waste, reduce litter and help protect marine life in Victoria’s waters”.

And Woolworths chief Brad Banducci said the retail giant needed to do its bit to cut down on plastic waste.

“We currently give out more than 3.2 billion lightweight plastic bags a year and hence can play a significant role in reducing overall plastic bag usage,” he said.

The non-biodegradable bags clog landfill and find their way into our oceans where they can suffocate marine life.