New plastic bag ban sparks backlash and praise from Aussie shoppers

AS the plastic bag ban came into effect today, some angry shoppers were already threatening to boycott the supermarket.

MANY enraged Australian shoppers have taken to social media to slam supermarket giant Coles’ decision to ban single-use plastic bags from check-outs from today onwards.

The controversial new rules saw the traditional free plastic shopping bags vanish from stores once the clock ticked past midnight.

From now on, Coles shoppers around the country will need to bring their own reusable bags to transport their groceries, or fork out 15c for a range of reusable bags available for purchase at check-outs.

But while a Coles spokesman described the ban as “the right thing to do for our environment” on Friday, some Aussies have since accused the corporation of using the ban as a money-making ploy, while others threatened to boycott the chain in protest.

The backlash follows yesterday’s announcement from SDA National, the union for workers in retail, fast food and warehousing, that a female Woolworths staff member was strangled and sworn at by a male customer who disagreed with the company’s bag ban at Woolworths Greenfields at Mandurah, Western Australia late last month.

The union is calling for angry shoppers to treat retail staff with respect despite so-called “plastic bag rage”.

However, when news.com.au visited Coles Waterloo in inner Sydney early this morning, the scene was calm with a number of shoppers already armed with their own reusable bags.

One said it was “about time” single-use plastic bags were banned, while another added it was “a positive step” towards a more sustainable future.

While much of the social media reaction has been negative, there has also been plenty of praise for the ban, with some saying it should have been introduced sooner, and others claiming people who complained about ditching plastic bags were simply “lazy”.

Others also pointed out plastic bag bans have successfully been introduced in various locations around the world — and in South Australia — without fuss.

Many shoppers told news.com.au via Twitter that they supported the ban, with one posting: “Reducing our carbon footprint is extremely important” while another added the ban was “very long overdue”, and another stating: “Soon enough it will be the new normal.”

Despite the social media backlash, Coles’ chief operating officer Greg Davis told news.com.au a “large proportion” of shoppers remembered to bring their own bags today, and that many customers had provided “positive feedback” regarding the change.

“We are sincerely grateful to all of our Coles customers who have been part of the transition this weekend. Our team members have worked hard to ensure all registers have been open to make it easy for customers to shop with us,” he said.

“Our community bags have proven extremely popular and a large proportion of shoppers have come to our stores prepared with their own bags.

“Customers have welcomed our investment in opening all supermarket check outs across Australia today and our Coles online and liquor customers have also provided positive feedback about the change.”

Mr Davis said staff would “continue to work hard to help customers through this transition”.

Coles will have extra staff on hand to man all check-outs until 6pm today in an effort to help customers cope with the change, while additional check-outs will be open between 9am and 9pm in NSW and Victoria, and from 9am to 7pm in Queensland and Western Australia until July 8.

Both Coles and Woolworths committed to a June 30, 2018 deadline for removing single-use plastic bags last year, although Woolworths has temporarily delayed its ban following significant customer backlash.

The backflip will see free reusable plastic bags handed out to customers until July 8 after many customers refused to pay for new reusable ones altogether.

Both grocery heavyweights have also pledged to slash the amount of plastic used in packaging and wrapping, with Coles also vowing to halve food waste and make all its own-brand packaging recyclable by 2020.

Meanwhile, two of Australia’s biggest retailers, Kmart and Target, have both refused to adopt the plastic bag ban despite other major chains following suit.

The discount department store chains, which are both owned by Wesfarmers, which also owns Coles, will instead keep single-use bags in stores until an unknown date in 2019.

Woolworths, and its liquor brand BWS, ditched the bags on June 20 while Coles, IGA and Woolworths-owned department store Big W all binned the bags today.

Was talking to someone we know at Coles in Lismore Square today, they've been getting abused for not providing bags even though there has been countdowns to no plastic bags for ages with signs out the front. Some spit the dummy and refuse to pay 15c for the new bags and leave their groceries. It's not as if they made the policy but they certainly cop the flack for it. There're some stupid people on this planet.

They make great bin bags so we grabbed a heap the evening before they stopped using them.

Coles will have extra staff on hand to man all check-outs until 6pm today in an effort to help customers cope with the change, while additional check-outs will be open between 9am and 9pm in NSW and Victoria, and from 9am to 7pm in Queensland and Western Australia until July 8.

I picked up some take-out last week, in a "reusable" plastic bag. Just like the old ones, but the plastic was probably about ten times as thick. Obviously'y it's not going to be re-used for anything if it is covered in food.

Now we have to buy bin liners. They only get used once now.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 10:10am:

I know a lot of ppl that have been buying bin liners for years and chucking away the food bags ... so it will make a difference. 

Where can I buy some bin liners?

Oh, maybe the supermarket sells them.

Setanta wrote on Jul 1^st, 2018 at 10:45pm:


I use the shopping bags in kitchen garbage bin, I have been collecting them for quite a few months I have a large supply.

Coles and Woolies had bins to recycle these shopping bags so what was the problem with them?

UnSubRocky wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 11:04am:



shops in ACT havent given away plastic bags for yonks.....seriously   a mile down the road in Queanbeyan  they were still using plastic bags for groceries....yet we had to buy them.....

it is a scam thats for sure... A GREENs scam  yes we have a green govt.. mixed with labor.....they do not believe in free plastic shopping bags   but its ok to cut down a whole avenue of trees....

and it also ok for rich developers to cut down masses of trees.....

oh the trees dont make paper btw   they are shredded 
and used for infil somewhere...


makes sense to some!

what doesnt come in plastic anymore???>..even my plastic food containers come wrapped in plastic....

does anyone know how to get a new toothbrush out of their plastic packaging   without the use of a chainsaw?...

cods wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 1:27pm:



shops in ACT havent given away plastic bags for yonks.....seriously   a mile down the road in Queanbeyan  they were still using plastic bags for groceries....yet we had to buy them.....

it is a scam thats for sure... A GREENs scam  yes we have a green govt.. mixed with labor.....they do not believe in free plastic shopping bags   but its ok to cut down a whole avenue of trees....

and it also ok for rich developers to cut down masses of trees.....

oh the trees dont make paper btw   they are shredded 
and used for infil somewhere...


makes sense to some!

what doesnt come in plastic anymore???>..even my plastic food containers come wrapped in plastic....

does anyone know how to get a new toothbrush out of their plastic packaging   without the use of a chainsaw?...

Was talking to someone we know at Coles in Lismore Square today, they've been getting abused for not providing bags even though there has been countdowns to no plastic bags for ages with signs out the front. Some spit the dummy and refuse to pay 15c for the new bags and leave their groceries. It's not as if they made the policy but they certainly cop the flack for it. There're some stupid people on this planet.

They make great bin bags so we grabbed a heap the evening before they stopped using them.

Where can I buy some bin liners?

Oh, maybe the supermarket sells them.

I think the overall effect will be less plastic. I found the supermarket bags to have a high failure rate. Many rip and couldn't be used as bin liners and often they'd fail as bin liners and you'd need a second one.

I'd prefer no bags and just buy the bin liner.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 11:04am:



shops in ACT havent given away plastic bags for yonks.....seriously   a mile down the road in Queanbeyan  they were still using plastic bags for groceries....yet we had to buy them.....

it is a scam thats for sure... A GREENs scam  yes we have a green govt.. mixed with labor.....they do not believe in free plastic shopping bags   but its ok to cut down a whole avenue of trees....

and it also ok for rich developers to cut down masses of trees.....

oh the trees dont make paper btw   they are shredded 
and used for infil somewhere...


makes sense to some!

what doesnt come in plastic anymore???>..even my plastic food containers come wrapped in plastic....

does anyone know how to get a new toothbrush out of their plastic packaging   without the use of a chainsaw?...

I've been using Aldi's reusable bags for years

Get over it! All these lazy polluters whose garbage ends up in the oceans killing off the marine life or in landfill which never break down!

The smarter ones amongst you should view this as the start of the end of single use plastics. Get used  to it, single use plastic has to disappear. Purchasing plastic bin liners instead is just stupidity. Get used to living plastic free, change your lazy
ways.

rhino wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 2:14pm:


Impossible.

Was talking to someone we know at Coles in Lismore Square today, they've been getting abused for not providing bags even though there has been countdowns to no plastic bags for ages with signs out the front. Some spit the dummy and refuse to pay 15c for the new bags and leave their groceries. It's not as if they made the policy but they certainly cop the flack for it. There're some stupid people on this planet.

Gnads wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 2:20pm:
Strange. However did people survive 50 years ago without single use plastic? Didn't anyone tell them it was impossible?

Gnads wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 2:20pm:
Strange. However did people survive 50 years ago without single use plastic? Didnt anyone tell them it was impossible?

rhino wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 2:24pm:


We are living in completely different times.

Do you support the removal of workers penalty rates & attacks on wages & conditions in the downward spiral back to the days 50 years ago & further?

We'll have the kids back down the mine next just to assist you with your nostalgia.   

buzzanddidj wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 7:41pm:
agreed. And the clingfilm, just not necassary.

rhino wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 11:57pm:


I know who the dufus is .... crapping on about single plastic bag use .... when the biggest amount of single use plastic .... that is not biodegradable is in packaging of products .... & plastic bottled water & softdrinks.

you are only attacking the obvious ...

and all the rest sails under the radar.

As has been demonstrated here people reuse & reuse the "single" use plastic bags.

And when disposed of properly should not end up in our water ways or oceans.

I doubt I'd want to be in line behind you in a supermarket when you've thrown your dirty old cloth or hemp bags up on the counter.   

freediver wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 9:07pm:

A plastic bag is a plastic bag, Im not sure what you mean by "break even". If you are using the same one 50 times then that means there are 50 less plastic bags in use. Its not a negative result. This is about preventing single use plastic consumption.

Gnads wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2018 at 5:43pm:
You seem a bit confused, as usual. This topic has nothing to do with penalty rates or kids down coal mines. You really are a dufus. No doubt you believe the plastic bag ban is some sort of conspiracy perpetuated by faceless villains aimed at eroding peoples rights.

You still seem confused. Im talking about all single use plastics, that includes water bottles.

I dont care if I spend $10 a week on paper bags, they are a renewable resource and generally plantation timber provides the pulp, helps the economy and biodegrades back into the environment quickly. Im sure a lot of you can remember before we had plastic bags.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2018 at 12:51pm:


Do Coles and Woolworths sell paper bin liners?

I've never looked.

The point is about single use plastics, not how much to costs or takes to manufacture a reusable bag.  Way to make an enormous issue out of very little. As for your conspiracy theories, the ban was not driven by the retail sector. I realise its a minor inconvenience, maybe just suck it up and get used to it. Have a Bex and a lie down.

3 days ago, I walked into the local woolworth for the first time since no plastic bag policy was introduced.  I expected to find a more 'greener' / environmentally friendly store.  But... I was wrong.

1) There are still same plastic bags in vege and fruit section.  There are no paper bags except in the mushroom section. 
2) There are still plastic packaging in the meat section.
3) The package in products have not changed. 
4) There are no paperboxes for people who bought more than they thought.
5) There is a 15c PLASTIC - re-usable bags for sale, and one elderly lady had to buy 5 of them.

It immediately hit me.  Those re usable plastic bags are just as damaging to the environment - if not more since they are more durable than the non usable ones.   The vast majority of plastic package in the supermarket remain UNCHANGED.   The only thing changed?  Instead of having the bags for free, now we have to buy them for 15 c each - 15 c of larger, more durable bags that they probably got for 2 to 3 cents each from China. 

Food for thought. 

The only thing changed?  Instead of having the bags for free, now we have to buy them for 15 c each - 15 c of larger, more durable bags that they probably got for 2 to 3 cents each from China. 

Food for thought. 

rhino wrote on Jul 4^th, 2018 at 10:56am:


Is this what you fall back on in defence of bad policy?

Gnads wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2018 at 7:19am:
You still seem confused. Im talking about all single use plastics, that includes water bottles. And has been demonstrated here the current plastic shopping bags dont get re used many times over, they may get re used once and then may go into landfill, where they take thousands of years to degrade. However the fact that its been demonstrated that the ocean is basically full of these things makes you look even more stupid. Its a no brainer really, I can see how you cant understand it.

3 days ago, I walked into the local woolworth for the first time since no plastic bag policy was introduced.  I expected to find a more 'greener' / environmentally friendly store.  But... I was wrong.

1) There are still same plastic bags in vege and fruit section.  There are no paper bags except in the mushroom section. 
2) There are still plastic packaging in the meat section.
3) The package in products have not changed. 
4) There are no paperboxes for people who bought more than they thought.
5) There is a 15c PLASTIC - re-usable bags for sale, and one elderly lady had to buy 5 of them.

It immediately hit me.  Those re usable plastic bags are just as damaging to the environment - if not more since they are more durable than the non usable ones.   The vast majority of plastic package in the supermarket remain UNCHANGED.   The only thing changed?  Instead of having the bags for free, now we have to buy them for 15 c each - 15 c of larger, more durable bags that they probably got for 2 to 3 cents each from China. 

Food for thought. 

tickleandrose wrote on Jul 6^th, 2018 at 12:20pm:


There used to be cardboard boxes. Im not sure when they disappeared but its recent IMO like in the last couple years - perhaps since the bag thing has been in the works.

Spot