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I'm back! Hope everyone had a good first semester. Sorry about my sudden disappearance - had a mini crisis but I'm back on my feet now, almost. Thanks to clarke54321 for so gracefully taking over.
The plastic bag ban in retailers is now in effect in QLD. A ban on plastic bags has been an issue for debate across Australia for quite some time. The following are opinions of consumers from QLD and NSW, respectively.
Majority of shoppers see merit in plastic bag banAs a supermarket worker, I have heard first-hand the opinions from the public about the move away from plastic bags.
Unsurprisingly, some have expressed their confusion and frustration as to the inconvenience it causes, while others feel cheated by the fact they must buy bags for shopping.
In spite of this, I have found that the majority of customers that I encounter seem to acknowledge that getting rid of plastic is part of a positive step to a brighter future.
Throughout the past century, the world has endeavoured to improve, advance and develop. We want life to be made as easy as possible, but only occasionally consider the effect that this attitude has on our environment.
Where the plastic ends up is the most crucial problem; whether it be entangled around a defenceless animal's neck or polluting our beaches.
Every year, 100 million tonnes of plastic are found in our oceans, killing on average 100 million marine creatures.
Action can only start once we realise the effects.
Banning plastic bags is the biggest change that shoppers will see in coming weeks at all stores through Queensland.
As a young member of society, I believe that banning single-use plastic bags is a productive move to a more sustainable future. Whether you agree with the action of banning plastic bags, or completely despise it, it has come the time to start protecting our planet, not just for today, but for future generations to come.
-Hayley Diesing
A plastic bag free world shouldn't be trashed I’m old enough to remember the brown paper bags used for packing groceries when you went to the supermarket.
They’re long gone in the modern day era of the plastic bag. Woolworths estimates it gives out more than 3.2 billion of them a year. Plastic bags were ranked in the top 10 of rubbish items collected on Clean Up Australia Day last year. So it’s no surprise things are about to change again.
Woolworths and Coles recently announced their stores will stop offering regular plastic bags by June 30 next year. Customers will be able to buy a more durable bag at 15 cents each, or bring their own. Harris Farm will stop all supply of plastic bags from January 1 next year and will bring back free paper bags and cardboard boxes.
So will it be an inconvenience?
Only if you make it out to be. Plastic bag bans are already enforced in South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania. Queensland will follow suit next year. Some cities even have bans, like Fremantle, along with Huskisson and Kangaroo Valley in NSW. Target enforced a plastic bag fee for several years, which didn’t bother me. Often I didn’t need the bag for my purchases but when I did, I didn’t care being charged 10 cents for the privilege.
Australians throw away more than 7000 plastic bags per minute, according to Plastic Bag Free NSW. I always accumulate far more plastic bags than what I reuse them for. There should be an onus on supermarkets to train checkout staff to not be so wasteful with plastic bags. At the checkout of my weekly shop, my groceries always end up in more plastic bags than should have been used. If I buy a 600 millilitre bottle of drink, that usually gets its own bag.
A Omnipoll survey conducted last month shows 64 per cent of NSW residents support a total ban on single use plastic bags at supermarkets and stores. It’s a promising sign it’s not just me who’s ready and willing to change their behaviour.
A plastic bag ban isn’t the end of the world.
It’s a small way towards making a big difference.
-Kylie Stevens