It’s hardly breaking news that plastic bags can negatively impact the planet, and it’s been almost a decade since South Australia acted on it, abolishing all single-use plastic bags from retailers in 2009.
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On Wednesday June 20, New South Wales is set to follow suit, implementing a ban on single-use plastic bags at major shopping outlets
Woolworths Mudgee is one of the establishments that will follow the new law as its set to offer reusable plastic bags in an effort to cut down on the mammoth figure of 3.2 billion plastic bags that currently exist in Woolies stores nationwide.
What does this mean for online shoppers? Not a lot will change.
Customers shopping on the internet will be prompted to select between reusable plastic bags or a ‘crate to bench service’, each costing $1 and $3.50 respectively.
Due to food safety reasons, certain produce items will continue to be packed into produce bags. Some other products, such chilled and frozen items, will still need to be packed into produce or reusable bags for food safety reasons.
After working at Woolworths Mudgee for 14 years, duty manager Brett McPherson said he’s excited for the new bags to take over.
“We get a full pallet of the old plastic bags every month. That’s too many,” Brett said.
“I think it’s great that this is happening.”
Change, whether it’s good or bad, will always be met with criticism and Brett said this store-wide adjustment is no exception.
“Some people aren’t happy just because they are losing the convenience of the single-use bags,” he said.
“A lot of people just don’t want to pay the extra for the reusable bags too.”
It’s not as if customers are being ripped off as 45 cents will get you five bags, each of which are expected to last at least two weeks.
“If you take care of the bags they should last a while.”