Woolworths to stop selling 15-cent reusable plastic bags in WA

Woolworths will begin phasing out its 15-cent reusable plastic bags in one state ahead of a ban coming into effect in July.

Woolworths will begin phasing out its 15-cent reusable plastic bags in Western Australia this month ahead of a statewide ban coming into effect in July.

Shoppers who don’t bring their own bags will be offered Woolworths’ 20-cent paper shopping bags instead as the standard option, which will also be used for online orders.

Green fabric reusable bags and the Bag For Good will still be available.

The reusable plastic bags were first introduced in 2018 when the supermarket was the first in Australia to ditch single-use bags, with others soon following suit.

Woolworths says more than 80 per cent of its customers in WA now bring their own bags to shop.

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Say goodbye to the 15-cent bags. Picture: Ben Rushton/AAP

“Over the next month, we’ll be gradually phasing out plastic shopping bags from our stores and online orders across WA, as we move to support the WA Government’s upcoming plastic bag ban,” Woolworths state general manager for WA Karl Weber said in a statement on Monday.

“This change will see more than 30 million plastic bags removed from circulation in WA every year — which is a big win for the health of our oceans and waterways. While our paper bags will continue to be available, the most sustainable bag you can use is the reusable one you bring from home.

“The vast majority of our customers already bring their own reusable bags to shop, which is the very best outcome for the environment, and we encourage customers to keep up the great work. We know the change brought about by this new WA legislation may be an adjustment for some customers and we thank them in advance for their support as we all work together to grow greener.”

Paper bags will become the norm in WA. Picture: Dallas Kilponen

Woolworths will be reminding customers in-store and through advertising to bring their own bag ahead of the change.

“Western Australia has a strong track record on reducing single-use plastics in the environment, and was named the top jurisdiction in the country two years in a row by WWF Australia, for the work that is being done,” WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby said in a statement.

“The WA community has shown overwhelming support for this — and I would like to thank everyone, including Woolworths, who have embraced these important changes.”

The WA government announced last year that it was fast-tracking the state’s “Plan for Plastics”, with regulations to ban plastic items being implemented in two stages.

Stage one, which includes thick plastic bags, started in January but enforcement of the rules begins on July 1.

Also covered by the ban are plastic plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, stirrers, straws, takeaway polystyrene food containers and helium balloon releases.

Plastic drinking straws are also being banned.

Stage two will be implemented by the end of 2022 and includes thin plastic produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, microbeads, oxo‑degradable plastics, takeaway coffee cups and lids, and polystyrene cups.

Under the rules, businesses can be fined $5000 for selling banned items, giving “false or misleading information” about plastic bags, supplying plastic straws, or releasing gas-filled plastic balloons.

WA says education and support for businesses will be the focus of the first six months after each stage, rather than compliance.

“The Western Australian Plan for Plastics sets our state on a path to becoming a plastic-free leader in Australia,” Premier Mark McGowan said last year in a statement announcing the move.

WA Premier Mark McGowan. Picture: James Gourley/NCA NewsWire

“Single-use plastics have a terrible impact on our environment, wildlife, public health and recycling efforts, and the vast majority of Western Australians have told us that they want this to stop.

“By bringing the time frames forward for single-use plastic bags we can harness the community’s enthusiasm and our collective desire for change to make important improvements quickly and effectively.

“The new time frame still gives businesses time to adapt to these changes, with many businesses already switching to environmentally friendly alternatives at the request of customers. By choosing to refuse single-use plastics we can continue to set the benchmark and, most importantly, protect our environment for future generations.”

Woolworths’ 20-cent paper bag, made by Australian company Detpak from 70 per cent recycled paper, is designed to be reused and can carry up to 6kg of groceries.

Woolworths says it has worked with the manufacturer to boost production of the paper bags to make up the additional volume required, in the process creating 25 new local jobs.

A Coles spokeswoman said the supermarket had already introduced new alternatives for customers in Western Australia and “we look forward to being 100 per cent plastic bag free in our supermarkets and Coles Express by mid-May 2022 ahead of WA’s plastic ban bag coming into effect”.

“Coles removed single-use plastic bags from our supermarkets in 2018 and since then have helped our customers find many ways to reduce their use of plastic when completing their shop – both in store and online – including replacing plastic bread tags with cardboard and phasing out single-use straws, plates, cutlery, and cotton buds,” she said.

“In Western Australia we have already rolled out recycled paper bags, which have been available in all WA supermarkets since December 2021 and we also have reusable Community Bags for sale, which have raised more than $5 million since they were introduced in June 2018 to help schools, sporting clubs, the environment and people experiencing hardship or disadvantage disadvantaged people and the environment.”