HOLES EMERGE IN BAG BAN
MILLIONS of single-use plastic bags will continue to be handed out to shoppers despite a statewide ban next month after the State Government backflipped on its hard line new law.
Retailers are unlikely to be fined if they flout the ban amid fears businesses are not ready for the new laws.
Shops can face penalties of up to $49,500 if they provide lightweight plastic bags to customers after November 1 but authorities are initially expected to take a lenient approach.
It can be revealed Bakers Delight has already been given permission to continue offering 1.6 million reusable bags for several months after warning the government it would otherwise have to send them to landfill.
And the exemption could open the door for other retailers to delay compliance with the ban, promised two years ago by the government, as industry figures say smaller businesses such as takeaway shops are not even aware of the laws.
A government spokeswoman said last night: “Our focus for the first months after the ban comes into effect will be on educating and engaging businesses, supporting them to comply.”
Bakers Delight placed a bulk order for reusable 35-micron bags in May last year and began charging customers for them, leading to a 61 per cent reduction in plastic bag purchases.
But all bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less will be illegal from next month, prompting the company to ask for a grace period which was granted by the Environment Protection Authority last week.
Bakers Delight joint chief executive Elise Gillespie said the business supported the ban but that forcing it to throw out its bags would have been even worse for the environment.
She said the transition period until March next year was sought as a “common sense” solution.
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said he had “major concerns” that a “vast number of retailers” did not know about the ban.
He said extensions would have to be granted to other retailers — although it is understood no other requests have been made to the EPA so far.
Over the past six months, the NRA has visited more than 180 shopping centres and precincts to help retailers with the transition.
Opposition wastewatch spokesman James Newbury said the Coalition was “absolutely committed to the phasing out of plastic bags”.
“It’s something we all care passionately about, but it’s important that businesses are consulted and given the chance to transition to a cleaner future without excessive waste,” he said.