Huge change coming to Coles bags revealed

A significant change is coming to a major supermarket in one state from next week.

A huge change is coming to a major supermarket in one state to prepare for the next stage of the plastic bag ban.

Coles has removed its single use produce bags across Western Australia as the new stage of the ban comes into play on September 1.

This will mean 36 million conventional plastic produce bags from 101 Western Australian stores will be removed from circulation every year.

Now, the new bags can be reused for Coles customers to collect kitchen food scraps and then added to home compost bins or, for councils participating, green collection bins.

Coles has ditched single use produce bags in Western Australia. Picture: Supplied

Matt Swindells, Coles Group chief operations and sustainability office, said the move will help encourage composting.

“Our customers will now be able to pack their fresh fruit and veg in certified compostable bags that can either be put it in their council bin for those in participating Local Government Areas or added to home compost where it will break down naturally,” he said.

“We know our customers want to see less plastic in our stores, and this latest change will see the removal of 36 million conventional plastic produce bags from circulation in Western Australia in just one year.”

Planet Ark is a partner of Coles and Rebecca Gilling, the chief executive office, congratulated Coles but said it was important shoppers bring their own disposable bags.

“Compostable bags help families recycle food waste by providing them with an easy and convenient way to collect food scraps at home that otherwise could have ended up in landfill. They’re also budget friendly, reducing the need for families to buy their own kitchen caddy bags,” she said.

Western Australia is the second state to do it. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

“While this is definitely a step in the right direction, our advice to customers purchasing loose fruit and vegetables is to place items directly into their trolley or basket wherever possible, particularly products with their own ‘natural packaging’ such as bananas and avocados, or bring their own reusable produce bags.”

Western Australia isn’t the first state to do this, with South Australia also phasing out single use produce bags.

Last year, Coles stopped selling soft plastic bags in store and online to remove 230 million plastic bags in a year. Now, they only sell 100 per cent recycled paper bags, a reusable toes, chiller and mesh produce bags.