Victoria is the second last state in the country to issue and implement a full plastic bag ban. When the Victorian ban on plastic bags comes into effect on November 1, 2019, New South Wales will be the only state in Australia with no plans to introduce a ban.
In 2016, it was estimated that Australia used 5 billion plastic bags, with 150 million of those ending up as litter in landfill.
With many states in Australia pursuing plastic bag bans over the last 10 years, many in the state are already choosing alternatives to lightweight plastic bags.
Recent research carried out by Sustainability Victoria shows that on average, three-quarters of Victorians are already using reusable bags when shopping for food and other items. Currently, almost 77 percent of Victorians are in favour of the forthcoming ban.
Sustainability Victoria’s new ‘Bag Habits’ campaign aims to build further awareness, offering some simple tips to help build better habits and get used to remembering their bags ahead of the ban. These include tips like leaving reusable bags in your car or at your front door, keeping a foldable bag in your handbag or backpack and remembering the slogan ‘Bag, wallet, phone, keys’ when leaving home.
Sustainability Victoria’s interim CEO, Carl Muller said, “With just over a month to go, it is great to see Victorians are taking positive steps to reduce their single-use plastic consumption and build better habits around reusable bags.
“When the ban comes into effect, carrying a reusable bag will be second nature to us, like picking up your wallet, keys and phone before leaving the house.”
The new campaign aims to change consumer behaviour ahead of the Victorian Government’s statewide ban on lightweight plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less. This includes degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags. The ban is the first step towards reducing single-use and unnecessary plastics.
The ban applies to all retailers including supermarkets, food outlets, clothing stores, markets, cafes, bakeries, greengrocers and many more. For more information, visit www.betterbaghabits.vic.gov.au
