Wool over our aisles
Shoppers caught out as supermarket brings bag ban in early
SHOPPERS were caught off guard when supermarket giant Woolworths stopped offering single-use plastic bags yesterday ahead of a statewide ban on July 1.
Customers were seen using fruit and veg bags to carry other items and wheeling trolleys full of loose groceries to their cars.
Lisa Steedman, who was shopping with son Ethan at Woolworths at Southport Park Shopping Centre, was among those caught out by the change.
With a full trolley of items, Mrs Steedman said she had no choice but to pay for 15 cent bags.
“I probably won’t remember them next time either,” she said.
“There’s going to be a lot of money spent each time on the 15 cent bags I think.”
Kristie Leo from Ashmore, shopping Ashmore Plaza, said she would bring bags from home next time after paying $2.50 for a freezer bag.
“I have a whole bag filled with plastic bags at home, so I will start bringing those in and re-using them,” she said.
Many customers welcomed the new law, which will see retailers forced scrap single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags less than 35 microns in thickness.
Ashmore local Luke Salter said he was aware of the bagban but forgot to bring a bag, shelling out 15 cents for one.
“I usually shop at Aldi, so I am used to bringing my own bags” he said.
“It’s a good start, it would be good if they also got rid of the other plastics they use in for produce bags and packaging.”
Canadian mates Rumple, Peter Wall, Ernie Casey Quek and Jayden Howard, who all live in Ashmore, came to buy a few essentials like milk and deodorant.
“We only had a few items so didn’t need a bag, we stopped using them two months ago anyway because they are so bad for the environment,” said Mr Wall.
“It’s actually a pretty cool move, hopefully it will save some turtles,” added Mr Howard.
Similar bans on single-use plastic bags already exist in other parts of the country including South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Western Australia and Victoria will also ban plastic bags this year, leaving New South Wales the only state where lightweight plastic bags will be allowed.
Woolworths state General Manager Matthew Franich said it would take time for shoppers to form new habits.
“Putting reusable bags at the top of your shopping list, keeping a couple in the car or leaving a post-it note on the fridge are some simple tricks that could work as a reminder,” he said.