Plastic bag ban forces consumer rethink
Most people seem to back the move as deadline looms less than a year away
The Government’s ban on single-use plastic bags will force New Zealanders to find new ways to deal with rubbish, pack their lunch — and clean up after four-legged friends.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday announced it would phase out bags within a year, saying it was necessary to preserve the country’s green reputation. The deadline for the phase-out nationwide is July 2019.
In Auckland yesterday, most consumers told the Weekend Herald they backed the move.
Three tertiary students, lugging two bulging plastic bags in each hand, complained about the cost of buying reusable bags — but then were quick to admit it was about being organised with what they had.
Another woman pointed out that some people back home in Mangawhai “hated” that plastic bags were being phased out, saying she didn’t believe there were other options to line bins or pick up dog poo.
But founder of social enterprise Thrive Whanganui, Nicola Patrick, said she used bread bags or a used milk carton. Patrick thinks there’s a niche in the market for a cardboard scoop. As for rubbish bin liners, Patrick said people did not need them.
Patrick gives her bin a good wash with either hot soapy water or a mixture of bicarbonate soda and water. Patrick says it’s easy enough and people ought to give it a go.
Countdown set the ball rolling with its promise to ban single-use plastic bags by the end of the year, leading to Foodstuffs and many other companies following suit.
Kiri Hannifin, Countdown’s general manager of corporate affairs, says the company was encouraging people to share ideas about alternatives, such as using newspaper.
Dr Trisia Farrelly, who’s on the New Zealand Product Stewardship Council, said a levy in conjunction with it would be more effective.
She points to the successes of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in introducing a levy on the plastic bags and having a 96 per cent reduction rate after just the first year.
And she adds, it’s important that there’s transparency around where the money from the levy would be going to — not the retailer itself but to an independent environmental fund.