Getting ready for the plastic bag ban

Businesses should start planning now in the expectation that single use plastic bags will be banned from South Australia by the end of 2008. A successful waste reduction program will provide a variety of benefits that, if managed effectively, will reduce costs while reducing the environmental impact of centres.

Up to 6.9 billion plastic bags are used in Australia annually, 8% in South Australia, and the majority will end up in landfill. Up to 6.01 billion of those are the single-use bags which will be banned in South Australia.

Plastic bags take 20 to 2000 years to decompose and not only are they ending up in landfill, they’re also finding their way into stormwater, rivers and streams and floating out to sea, where they are killing marine creatures and birds.

South Australians have embraced reusable bags when shopping. They are highly visible in supermarkets, and more and more people are using them. Zero Waste SA’s market research has found that South Australians accept the need to stop using single-use plastic bags and consider that once they have been banned, shoppers and retailers will quickly adapt.

What you can do

• Don’t stockpile a large volume of single use plastic bags – you will not be able to use them from the end of 2008.

Offer reusable bag options with your logo printed for sale to customers, such as recycled paper, calico, polypropylene (green bags). We have a list of suppliers providing an alternative to plastic bags. Also check out:

Planet Ark at: www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/59/
KESAB environmental solutions at: www.kesab.asn.au/betterbag/index.htm

• In the lead up to the banning of the bags, train staff to ask customers ‘Do you need a bag?’ with their purchase and to pack an appropriate amount of items in each bag.

• Begin a plastic bag reuse system. Display signs reminding customers to bring their own bags and provide incentives through special promotional activities.

CASE STUDY
A major promotional highlight has been Centro Colonnades’ successful World Environment Day, ‘Swap 10 plastic shopping bag for a bag of mulch’ promotion. Shoppers are encouraged to bring along used plastic bags in exchange for a bag of Cottage Mulch, produced through the centre’s BiobiN organic storage/ collection system. A great example of the recycle loop. Over 5000 plastic shopping bags are recycled through the centre’s plastic recycling system each promotion, and over the past 3 years that’s over 18 000 recycled plastic bags.

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