PLASTIC BAGS

THE impending single-use plastic bag ban being introduced by the big grocery retailers is a complete joke.

Why not get fair dinkum and ban all forms of plastic packaging completely. Take a minute to think about all the other forms of single-use plastic packaging that these companies promote and sell.

Milk and soft drink bottles, butter and yoghurt containers, frozen foods, bread, bags for deli items, bags for fresh fruit and vegetables, the list goes on, all manner of products right across the store.

Why not revert back to good old paper bags and butcher’s paper? Both served us well for a long time and are biodegradable. Obviously their re-introduction would cost more and that is the only criteria that these companies care about.

From a retailing point of view, this ban is a winning idea, the executives behind it should be lining up for their bonuses, why? It will generate profit.

Most people I know actually use these so-called single-use bags twice, firstly carrying their stuff home and then used again as rubbish bags. They are perfect for the job and when disposed of properly end up in landfill. Unlike most other forms of packaging they are not single-use at all.

Across the country the retailers will save millions on the cost of providing these bags while most people, myself included, are having to purchase carry bags as well as new single-use plastic bags to line their rubbish bins with. P. POWER, Toowoomba