Big change in the bag

ICAN’T remember doing anything worthy, wonderful or way out there at the age of 10 other than being able to touch the tip of my nose with my tongue. Well, almost the tip. Mum was a champion at it and we would spend many a laughter-filled moment together with her trying to get me to plant my tongue right on the tip. Usually, I would fall just short, while she could extend hers right to the top. I thought Mum freakishly talented … remembering I was 10 at the time. The reason I bring up such a mundane, albeit happy milestone/ memory is to put into perspective what Cairns girl Molly Steer is doing. While she may have tried touching her nose with her tongue during some silly, childish game with friends or family at least once in her short life, she is better known for taking on the world – one plastic straw at a time.

Over about a year, she has convinced about 90 schools nationally and globally to ban drinking straws and good golly Miss Molly, she even made Mayor Bob Manning and Cairns Regional Council take notice and ban straws and other single-use plastics from their operations.

Other businesses and councils have followed suit and all in a comparatively short time.

Momentum is building with July 1 looming as another monumental day in our consumer lives.

Call it Disorganised Shoppers’ Hell Day, or simply, Plastic Bags Must Die Day.

Actually, not all of them will cease to be available. Mainly just the ones we’ve been using for eons to hold all our groceries in before using them to line our bins at home.

I’ve largely been a good environmental warrior for some years now, using reusable green and hessian bags.

But not all the time.

As organised as I’ve tried to be, keeping a stash in the car and under my work desk, I’ve often been caught bagless for the impromptu or “absolutely vital” trip to the grocery store.

Soon though, I and all of you will have to change our ways – all of the time – or face juggling cereal boxes and instant noodles down the street.

Some are still arguing about the difference the ban will make, why all bags aren’t banned and consumers’ rights, but the fact is July 1 is coming. There’s nothing surer than a late charge by the Maroons in Game Two of a State of Origin with their backs against the wall.

While I don’t love the idea of taking my chances without a plastic straw on a half-clean glass at a public bar or changing decades-old shopping behaviours, I want to do my bit for the ol’ girl.

Our environment is more robust than we give it credit for sometimes but we should, whenever we can, look after our Mother Nature.

SOME ARE STILL ARGUING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE THE BAN (ON PLASTIC BAGS) WILL MAKE, WHY ALL BAGS AREN’T BANNED AND CONSUMERS’ RIGHTS, BUT THE FACT IS JULY 1 IS COMING