Plastic bag bans: Here's how the alternatives stack up

[davidc4430]

Plastic bag bans: Here's how the alternatives stack up

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-06-20/plastic-bag-ban-options/9874474

[chameleon54]

---

@springyzone wrote:

And pigs might fly too.

I have my own set of shopping bags but where I foresee this whole ban will be a bit of a pain is where you don't expect to do any grocery shopping but as you go by, you think-might as well pick up some meat and milk while I am here.

It is going to mean having to buy another bag because you may not carry one of the green bags just on the off chance.

The concept that worries me though is every shop seems to be getting on the bandwagon & charging for a bag to put your purchases in. Back when i was a kid, it was a given that your purchase had to go in something, and usually it was a paper bag.

From what I can see, what it is going to do as far as shopping in general goes is people may be ready for groceries, but if you're doing other shopping-gifts, clothes, all it is likely to do is pass an extra cost onto the consumer in most cases, not necessarily cut down greatly on bags.

---

We have had the bag ban in SA for a few years. What our family finds is that you pop into the supermarket on the way home from footy just to pick up a few things or I drop in after work in the farm ute with the dogs in the back and phone the missus to see if she needs anything. I dont just happen to have a couple of shopping bags handy so I spend another 15 cents or 30 cents and buy a couple more bags.

They end up in the bottom drawer of the kitchen cupboard and get used for the kids swimming towels or bin liners or red flags on the back of lengths of timber on the trailer or as liners in the car when we buy a couple of pot plants. Basically we end up with heaps of them and many only see one or two grocery shops then end up in land fill.

Taking your re-usable bags to the supermarket every time you shop may work for those who are retired or have plenty of time on their hands, but busy people dont always go to the shops once a week in a carefully planned way with bags all cleaned and neatly folded ready to go.

[*kazumi*]

---

@travlyn2012 wrote:

If the figures are correct, no doubt that the supermarkets will pass on the $170m a year savings to the consumers.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/staggering-amount-coles-woolworths-expected-make-reusable-bags-214731030.h...

---

I think that will be a long wait   LOL

[lyhargr_0]

Our local supermarket now has Boomerang Bags   ..... The Lions Club introduced the idea and the kids at the local schools, sewed the patch on the front   .... They can be borrowed, wiped clean and returned at the next shopping trip

Maybe yours could do the same?

[chameleon54]

The boomerang bags look very sturdy & smart and it appears they should wipe clean easily. Nice job.

[davidc4430]

---

@chameleon54 wrote:

The boomerang bags look very sturdy & smart and it appears they should wipe clean easily. Nice job.

---

and you cant throw them away, they just come back and hit you in the back of your scon!

[travlyn2012]

Coles reusable bag.

These have certainly made a huge difference to the enviroment.

NOT !!!!!.

https://licensed.storyful.com/videos/205136

[davidc4430]

Coles backs down on plastic bag ban, will hand out thicker bags as customers 'need more time'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-01/coles-free-plastic-bags-continue-after-policy-backdown/1006006...

seems NSW shoppers find changing from free bags to 'buy them bags' too hard.

[lyhargr_0]

Am starting thing that those who shop at Coles must be "whimps" lol   .... Sheese we shop at Aldi, they have NEVER provided bags, always had to take your  own, not all that difficult to do ( if you really want to )

[springyzone]

I shop at Aldi's then go into Coles. I've noticed a change since the free bags stopped. 

I've used the bags I showed in message 6 of this thread for several months now. these days, i get stopped several times in a morning to ask where I got them.

The benefit is the person at the check out does not have to touch them. I just load stuff directly into the bags as they are scanned. That way, I don't have to go anywhere else to repack, it's quick & easy.

But they are bulky to carry so i only have them on me if I am going grocery shopping. All other times, I have one of the Ikea bags. They are made of a thin but strong material, they fold up a lot better than those Coles cheap plastic bags

How much this will help the environment though I do not know. We live in a disposable world. Just look at disposable nappies. Imagine the outcry if they got banned, I guarantee people would be screaming. But we got by 30 years ago, even those of us who went back to work.

And disposable cups. I personally prefer a china cup if I am out and ordering a coffee but some places don't give you a choice.

There is still a long way to go, much more we could do if we're serious about cutting down on waste.

[lyndal1838]

I am in NSW and have been using the green bags for years.  As they get shabby or damaged they get replaced.

As soon as they were unpacked after shopping they went straight back into the van for the next shopping trip.   I only occasionally used a free one use bag if I only wanted one or two things....and to line my kitchen tidy.

I really don't know what all the fuss is about.  It is not rocket science to remember to bring your own bags.

As long as Coles keep handing out free bags a lot of shoppers will never "remember" to bring their own.