Plastic bag ban: customers want to know where all the unused single-use bags are going

THE plastic bag ban has many shoppers in a tizz. Now some are asking if all the millions of withdrawn single-use bags are heading straight to landfill.

THERE’S a question that’s been taxing the minds of many a shopper in the wake of the plastic bag ban.

It’s not whether the ban will change people’s habits or even how environmentally sound the replacements are, but something far more immediate.

When Woolworths removed single-use plastic bags from registers, where did all the unused ones go?

Woolies withdrew thin, single-use plastic bags on Wednesday in the states where government bans were not already in place.

It’s likely millions of single-use plastic bags (seen above) were ordered by supermarkets but not used due to the ban. Picture: Mark Scott

Coles and many IGA stores will follow suit on July 1 when the Victorian and Queensland governments enact bag bans. Only NSW doesn’t require the bags to be excised from check-outs but the big chains have opted to remove them anyway.

By choosing to axe the bags on a single day, rather than letting the stocks simply run out, Woolworths was left with a pile of unused plastic bags.

The company has said they gave away around 3.2 billion bags annually. Even if it had just a week’s worth of bags still in stock when the axe fell, that’s potentially some 61 million carrier bags loitering in stores destined never to be filled.

When Coles and other supermarkets make the switch on 1 July, they will also likely be left with millions more unused bags.

Cat, a community worker, wrote on Woolworths Facebook page earlier this week that she had wanted to take at least some of the single use bags off the chain’s hands so an organisation she worked with could weave them into weatherproof mattresses for the homeless.

There are concerns many of the unused bags could end up in landfill or in the environment. Picture: Martin Bernetti/AFP Photo

She said she rang the head office and claimed they said no.

“I was highly disappointed to be told that we could not have any plastic bags to use as materials due to all of them going to landfill which is a much wasted opportunity for both Woolworths and the homeless in our communities.”

But Woolworths has strenuously denied that unused plastic bags are heading to landfill.

A company spokeswoman told news.com.au the company had been running down stocks in preparation for the ban and any leftover bags would be recycled.

“Now that we’ve removed the final stock of single-use bags from our stores, we’re expanding our network of industry recycling partners,” she said.

Supermarkets are encouraging customers to use sturdy reusable bags. Picture: AAP

“We’ll work with these partners to turn the soft plastics into a wide array of long lasting, Australian-made, sustainable products for use in our stores or within our communities.”

Coles said much the same: “Coles has been managing inventory carefully to minimise the number of single-use bags remaining when we change over, and leftover bags will be recycled via the REDcycle program.”

REDcycle is a Melbourne-based organisation that runs a program to recycle soft plastic.

A Coles spokeswoman said customers could also recycle their own plastic in stores — not just carrier bags but packaging for bread, cereal and other soft packaging.

“Since the program began in 2011, Coles has diverted more than 426 million pieces of soft plastic from landfill across Australia,” she said.

Woolworths, which jumped first on the ban, has been copping criticism online for the move.

“Do you think we are stupid?” said one customer, accusing the supermarkets of profiteering from the ban. Another said she was “horrified” that while single-use bags had been banned, their replacements were thicker and would potentially take even longer to break down.

But Woolworths has said its sole aim is to encourage customers to bring their own bags and reduce plastic.

Sydney University student Eliza Ronan sits on one a REDcycle bench, made from recycled plastic. Picture: John Appleyard

Many shoppers have also come to the chain’s defence, pointing out the bag ban is nothing new and, in most states, is mandated by law.

“They have been advertising for months and months about this. Harden up and make a change to help the planet you have to live on,” said Sam Williamson on Facebook.

Elaine Laurel had a clear message for those moaning about the loss of bags.

“Woolies told us forever ago that they would stop single-use bags … and then reminded us … then reminded us again!” she wrote.

“Change your behaviour and bring your bloody bags and stop whining.”