New plastic bag ban sparks backlash and praise from Aussie shoppers

AS the plastic bag ban came into effect today, some angry shoppers were already threatening to boycott the supermarket.

MANY enraged Australian shoppers have taken to social media to slam supermarket giant Coles’ decision to ban single-use plastic bags from check-outs from today onwards.

The controversial new rules saw the traditional free plastic shopping bags vanish from stores once the clock ticked past midnight.

From now on, Coles shoppers around the country will need to bring their own reusable bags to transport their groceries, or fork out 15c for a range of reusable bags available for purchase at check-outs.

But while a Coles spokesman described the ban as “the right thing to do for our environment” on Friday, some Aussies have since accused the corporation of using the ban as a money-making ploy, while others threatened to boycott the chain in protest.

No its crap. Saving money is their stick. We got bio bags 10 years ago. Most aussie keep and refuse their bags anyway.. or use paper like they used to be.. it's a scam

— samueljones (@samuelj81609705) July 1, 2018

just another way for the chains to make money

— Vinny (@vincenz_86) July 1, 2018

@woolworths you have totally botched this plastic bag thing and I bet @Coles will be no better. Wherever and whenever possible I will no longer shop with you. Hello @harrisfarm1971 and @IGA

— JD (@daltonjoanne) July 1, 2018

The backlash follows yesterday’s announcement from SDA National, the union for workers in retail, fast food and warehousing, that a female Woolworths staff member was strangled and sworn at by a male customer who disagreed with the company’s bag ban at Woolworths Greenfields at Mandurah, Western Australia late last month.

The union is calling for angry shoppers to treat retail staff with respect despite so-called “plastic bag rage”.

However, when news.com.au visited Coles Waterloo in inner Sydney early this morning, the scene was calm with a number of shoppers already armed with their own reusable bags.

One said it was “about time” single-use plastic bags were banned, while another added it was “a positive step” towards a more sustainable future.

While much of the social media reaction has been negative, there has also been plenty of praise for the ban, with some saying it should have been introduced sooner, and others claiming people who complained about ditching plastic bags were simply “lazy”.

Others also pointed out plastic bag bans have successfully been introduced in various locations around the world — and in South Australia — without fuss.

I am perfectly fine with it, plastic bags are a huge problem for the environment and it is time for the change, people have had months of warning to get prepared for this. I was ready weeks ago.

— Louisse Gimbergh (@Netwebangel) July 1, 2018

Huge step forward for reducing plastic waste with the bag bans by Woolies and Coles, and now a more wide spread ban by the Vic government.

Honestly, this should’ve happened at least 5 years ago.

— Gursewak Singh (@wickywak) July 1, 2018

Many shoppers told news.com.au via Twitter that they supported the ban, with one posting: “Reducing our carbon footprint is extremely important” while another added the ban was “very long overdue”, and another stating: “Soon enough it will be the new normal.”

Despite the social media backlash, Coles’ chief operating officer Greg Davis told news.com.au a “large proportion” of shoppers remembered to bring their own bags today, and that many customers had provided “positive feedback” regarding the change.

“We are sincerely grateful to all of our Coles customers who have been part of the transition this weekend. Our team members have worked hard to ensure all registers have been open to make it easy for customers to shop with us,” he said.

“Our community bags have proven extremely popular and a large proportion of shoppers have come to our stores prepared with their own bags.

“Customers have welcomed our investment in opening all supermarket check outs across Australia today and our Coles online and liquor customers have also provided positive feedback about the change.”

Mr Davis said staff would “continue to work hard to help customers through this transition”.

Coles will have extra staff on hand to man all check-outs until 6pm today in an effort to help customers cope with the change, while additional check-outs will be open between 9am and 9pm in NSW and Victoria, and from 9am to 7pm in Queensland and Western Australia until July 8.

Both Coles and Woolworths committed to a June 30, 2018 deadline for removing single-use plastic bags last year, although Woolworths has temporarily delayed its ban following significant customer backlash.

Coles' controversial plastic bag ban is now in force. Picture: Supplied

The backflip will see free reusable plastic bags handed out to customers until July 8 after many customers refused to pay for new reusable ones altogether.

Both grocery heavyweights have also pledged to slash the amount of plastic used in packaging and wrapping, with Coles also vowing to halve food waste and make all its own-brand packaging recyclable by 2020.

Meanwhile, two of Australia’s biggest retailers, Kmart and Target, have both refused to adopt the plastic bag ban despite other major chains following suit.

The discount department store chains, which are both owned by Wesfarmers, which also owns Coles, will instead keep single-use bags in stores until an unknown date in 2019.

Woolworths, and its liquor brand BWS, ditched the bags on June 20 while Coles, IGA and Woolworths-owned department store Big W all binned the bags today.

— with AAP