Single use plastic bag ban by Government

[Paul302351]

Ban pie charts..

Solves all the worlds problems.

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by Cav

Let's look at what is happening in NZ which doesn't have a ban on single use plastic bags, yet.

Single use plastic bags account for 8.2% in the marine environment in a NZ study.

image

Surely we should ban the main problem, not just one little part.

To do otherwise is gesture politics and achieves bugger all except allowing politicians to beat their chests about at least doing something.

The Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said she was getting closer to making a decision on plastic bags, and an announcement would be made within the next few months.
"Plastic bags, which are used once and thrown away, need to be phased out."

So I will keep asking this question, "Do we want to solve the plastic waste or not?"

If so ban all plastic.

Either make a decision to do this or do nothing

I'm so far from a hippy but it's pretty retarded how it all goes. We have a pretty beautiful country and I'd like to keep it that way!

[Cav]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

I'm so far from a hippy but it's pretty retarded how it all goes. We have a pretty beautiful country and I'd like to keep it that way!

So like me then you support a total ban on all plastic and consider the ban on single use plastic bags as a pisstake?

[prydey]

those that are so 'anti'...

is it because you can't be bothered taking your own bags shopping or just the fact that you don't like change?

if its because you think it will impact you financially, that's a pretty long bow to draw.


personally I think its a bit like when you think its time your baby stopped having a dummy and you throw it in the bin. there's a bit of a tantrum and whinging for a bit, but then they accept it and life goes on. pretty soon, they realise they never really needed it anyway.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Cav

Let's look at what is happening in NZ which doesn't have a ban on single use plastic bags, yet.

Single use plastic bags account for 8.2% in the marine environment in a NZ study.

image

Surely we should ban the main problem, not just one little part.

To do otherwise is gesture politics and achieves bugger all except allowing politicians to beat their chests about at least doing something.

The Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said she was getting closer to making a decision on plastic bags, and an announcement would be made within the next few months.
"Plastic bags, which are used once and thrown away, need to be phased out."

So I will keep asking this question, "Do we want to solve the plastic waste or not?"

If so ban all plastic.

Either make a decision to do this or do nothing

I think banning all plastics would be great. The problem, as highlighted by zipping and acknowledged by me earlier, is that plastic is a very versatile product and has found its way in to so many places that a ban on all plastics would be totally impractical.

So, what do we do?

First question we need to ask ourselves is whether the increased reliance on plastic is a good thing for our environment or not. Now, asking this question I am only considering the disposal phase and not the amount of materials and energy required to produce the plastic in the first place.

Given the info earlier that not one piece of plastic ever made has biodegraded, and that our use of plastic is increasing (source), the amount of plastic that still exists in this world is not a good thing.

If you are of the opposite view, exit here.

Next, if we are concerned, what can we do about it? Ban it? Sure, but as I said earlier, that is not really a practicable solution right now. So, what other way can we reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the waste streams? The next obvious choice is to recycle. And I think that band wagon is starting to gain some momentum, but it needs more publicity to get people on side (assuming that they can be brought on side).

What else can we do? The next thing,in my mind, is to at least minimise the impact form an item that has one single use and one single use only. Plastic shopping bags are not the only culprit in this space. There are many more examples that we could all think of. But single use shopping bags seems like as good a place as any to start, doesn't it, because it is something that we as a nation can control. It is a little more difficult to impose import laws, for example, on single use packaging materials given that the vast majority of our products are made overseas and we would have little to no impact should we introduce such legislation.

Look, I get the scepticism around this. But, from my perspective, this is just the first step in a very looooong process to be able to reduce our reliance on a substance that never disappears, and at the end of the day, once it is used, it is disposed of. There has to be a point where we stop and have a look to see what impact our decisions as a race is having on our environment. The environment that currently sustains this race's life. Is it worth upsetting the imbalance over? Or can we take some steps to limit our impact now whilst we haven't upset that balance?

Or do we do nothing but mock the government because they made a decision that appears to have very little real impact?

[Cav]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

I think banning all plastics would be great. The problem, as highlighted by zipping and acknowledged by me earlier, is that plastic is a very versatile product and has found its way in to so many places that a ban on all plastics would be totally impractical.

So, what do we do?

First question we need to ask ourselves is whether the increased reliance on plastic is a good thing for our environment or not. Now, asking this question I am only considering the disposal phase and not the amount of materials and energy required to produce the plastic in the first place.

Given the info earlier that not one piece of plastic ever made has biodegraded, and that our use of plastic is increasing (source), the amount of plastic that still exists in this world is not a good thing.

If you are of the opposite view, exit here.

Next, if we are concerned, what can we do about it? Ban it? Sure, but as I said earlier, that is not really a practicable solution right now. So, what other way can we reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the waste streams? The next obvious choice is to recycle. And I think that band wagon is starting to gain some momentum, but it needs more publicity to get people on side (assuming that they can be brought on side).

What else can we do? The next thing,in my mind, is to at least minimise the impact form an item that has one single use and one single use only. Plastic shopping bags are not the only culprit in this space. There are many more examples that we could all think of. But single use shopping bags seems like as good a place as any to start, doesn't it, because it is something that we as a nation can control. It is a little more difficult to impose import laws, for example, on single use packaging materials given that the vast majority of our products are made overseas and we would have little to no impact should we introduce such legislation.

Look, I get the scepticism around this. But, from my perspective, this is just the first step in a very looooong process to be able to reduce our reliance on a substance that never disappears, and at the end of the day, once it is used, it is disposed of. There has to be a point where we stop and have a look to see what impact our decisions as a race is having on our environment. The environment that currently sustains this race's life. Is it worth upsetting the imbalance over? Or can we take some steps to limit our impact now whilst we haven't upset that balance?

Or do we do nothing but mock the government because they made a decision that appears to have very little real impact?

Very thoughtful response mate, thank you.

But just to clarify something - I love to mock the government because they made a decision that appears to have very little real impact.

[aussiblue]

I hope we are all also moving to copper free brake pads http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/nation...ree-brake-pads

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

those that are so 'anti'...

is it because you can't be bothered taking your own bags shopping or just the fact that you don't like change?

I don't like my shopping experience to be made more inconvenient - see why retail is dying and online is taking over killing local stores and costing jobs?

I work in spare parts and I'm working on automating myself out of a job at the moment

[GO FURTHER]

If supermarkets were really serious about doing more to reduce plastic bag usage, they should be selling eco-friendly biodegradable string bags instead of reusable plastic bags.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by aussiblue

I hope we are all also moving to copper free brake pads http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/nation...ree-brake-pads

http://www.remsa.com/company/

Environment

As an added bonus, REMSA brake pads are unique from an environmental standpoint, as they are free of heavy metals such as, among others, lead, copper and antimony.

103500UC is the part number for BA-FGX front pads just quietly (Bendix DB1473) - available from your independent brake specialist (not Burson or Repco)

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by Cav

Very thoughtful response mate, thank you.

But just to clarify something - I love to mock the government because they made a decision that appears to have very little real impact.

Sorry, Cav, it was just a cheeky throw away line

I have to admit that most of the time the Government does make it pretty easy to target them.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

If supermarkets were really serious about doing more to reduce plastic bag usage, they should be selling eco-friendly biodegradable string bags instead of reusable plastic bags.

image

You do realise you are free to use whatever bag you choose. If YOU want to use those bags, just go and buy some. They don't have to be plastic.

Why is it up to the supermarket?

We have been doing it in SA for nearly a decade. I've used many different types of bags. You can even put it loose back in the trolley and then in to your car with no bags.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by prydey

You do realise you are free to use whatever bag you choose. If YOU want to use those bags, just go and buy some. They don't have to be plastic.

Why is it up to the supermarket?

We have been doing it in SA for nearly a decade. I've used many different types of bags. You can even put it loose back in the trolley and then in to your car with no bags.

Of course, I realise I can bring or use whatever bag I choose.
I just think it is hypocritical that they ban single-use plastic bags, then sell you reusable plastic ones, for those who forgot or did not bring their own bags.

They should offer an alternative such as the eco-friendly biodegradable string bags I suggested for the purpose of carrying shopping home.

And yes, of course, they would still sell single-use bags needed for rubbish liners, but that is for a different purpose than carrying shopping home.

[Uncle_Ken]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Of course, I realise I can bring or use whatever bag I choose.
I just think it is hypocritical that they ban single-use plastic bags, then sell you reusable plastic ones, for those who forgot or did not bring their own bags.

They should offer an alternative such as the eco-friendly biodegradable string bags I suggested for the purpose of carrying shopping home.

And yes, of course, they would still sell single-use bags needed for rubbish liners, but that is for a different purpose than carrying shopping home.

YES they still sell Kitchen Tidy Bags @7c each (pack of 30 is $2), so instead of customers getting them for free we can remember to bring up bag, buy the reusable ones or buy a pack of Kitchen Tidy Bags. Either way we pay and the environment is no better off.
UK

[Maka]

So the winners in the great ex free shopping bag debate are, 1 - the supermarkets, 2 - the guvmint, 3 - the environment, 4 - the shopper, in that order lol?

cheers, Maka

[whitelion65]

Go Further, I am shocked that you are advocating the use of string bags!
Have you forgotten the world string shortage, brought to our attention by "The Goodies"?
PS I'm experimenting with some corn starch polymer compost bags for the kitchen scraps. Almost time to empty the compost bin and reveal the results.......

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Of course, I realise I can bring or use whatever bag I choose.
I just think it is hypocritical that they ban single-use plastic bags, then sell you reusable plastic ones, for those who forgot or did not bring their own bags.

They should offer an alternative such as the eco-friendly biodegradable string bags I suggested for the purpose of carrying shopping home.

And yes, of course, they would still sell single-use bags needed for rubbish liners, but that is for a different purpose than carrying shopping home.

The IGA I went to today has the reusable 'Coles bags', and also a hessian bag you can buy. I had bought the hessian bag on a previous trip.

My girlfriend picked up a string bag from a store very recently too.
Plenty of places are doing this.

Honestly, it's not that inconvenient. And I imagine the thicker purchasable plastic bags are an interim solution until people are more used to bringing their own.

We've always used the shopping bags as garbage bags too, but we haven't started buying bin liners. The girlfriend likes to garden, so scraps are going into compost. Containers are rinsed out, and it's only 'clean' rubbish going into the bin, so it doesn't smell either. The composting option is less viable in a flat, of course.

One issue I ran into recently was I took my old backpack down to the shop rather than bags I would need to carry in my hands, and they have a no backpack policy. But I just left it at the counter.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

The IGA I went to today has the reusable 'Coles bags', and also a hessian bag you can buy. I had bought the hessian bag on a previous trip.

My girlfriend picked up a string bag from a store very recently too.
Plenty of places are doing this.

Honestly, it's not that inconvenient. And I imagine the thicker purchasable plastic bags are an interim solution until people are more used to bringing their own.

We've always used the shopping bags as garbage bags too, but we haven't started buying bin liners. The girlfriend likes to garden, so scraps are going into compost. Containers are rinsed out, and it's only 'clean' rubbish going into the bin, so it doesn't smell either. The composting option is less viable in a flat, of course.

One issue I ran into recently was I took my old backpack down to the shop rather than bags I would need to carry in my hands, and they have a no backpack policy. But I just left it at the counter.

Maybe Coles and Wollies should put their cardboard boxes out the front, like at Bunnings, and then consumers can put the shopping in the boxes and wheel them out in the trolley to the car.

[Uncle_Ken]

Its Ok I have a solution

We can get our kids to make them for us instead on playing on iPads
UK

[BPXR6T]

I wish all supermarkets were like Aldi with somewhere to pack my own bags. I have no problems with reusable bags but am hating getting home with 4 of 12 broken eggs, a squashed loaf, or meat juices right through my shopping because they're trying to jam too much into a bag.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by prydey

those that are so 'anti'...

is it because you can't be bothered taking your own bags shopping or just the fact that you don't like change?

if its because you think it will impact you financially, that's a pretty long bow to draw.


personally I think its a bit like when you think its time your baby stopped having a dummy and you throw it in the bin. there's a bit of a tantrum and whinging for a bit, but then they accept it and life goes on. pretty soon, they realise they never really needed it anyway.

I am 'Anti' because I have a brain and I am able to see that the whole thing is a scam made to benefit supermarkets and line their pockets even further and inconvenience us the customer all the while taking more $$ out of our pocket, with absolutely no benefit to the environment.

It's blatantly obvious and even a complete imbecile should be able to work out that on an Australia wide basis Supermarkets will easily make 20-30 million a week out of this. If they only manage to get a single dollar from every person in Australia they will have made 20 million plus, and I know they already got way more than a dollar per person out of our four person family since this scam started.

I would have respected the idea of being environmentally friendly if they did not simply replace 'free' plastic bags with 'pay for' plastic bags that are worse for the environment.

It has nothing to do with resisting change and more with not wanting to be scammed or taken to be a fool.

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

I

I would have respected the idea of being environmentally friendly if they did not simply replace 'free' plastic bags with 'pay for' plastic bags that are worse for the environment.

It has nothing to do with resisting change and more with not wanting to be scammed or taken to be a fool.

I have a crazy idea. It's a way you can Stick It To The Man and not feed into corporate greed.


Take your own bags.

I might start spreading the word on this. I don't think anyone's come up with it yet.

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

Maybe Coles and Wollies should put their cardboard boxes out the front, like at Bunnings, and then consumers can put the shopping in the boxes and wheel them out in the trolley to the car.

Just like they used to.
I remember the big pile of boxes out the front when I was a kid. It was our job to go get a bunch of boxes for the groceries while mum was at the checkout.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

Just like they used to.
I remember the big pile of boxes out the front when I was a kid. It was our job to go get a bunch of boxes for the groceries while mum was at the checkout.

Another reason I shop at ALDI - they leave the boxes in the isles and I pop those into my trolley and shop directly into then. Put in boot. Unpack and recycle bin when I get home

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

I have a crazy idea. It's a way you can Stick It To The Man and not feed into corporate greed.


Take your own bags.

I might start spreading the word on this. I don't think anyone's come up with it yet.

Not exactly rocket science is it.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by Uncle_Ken

Its Ok I have a solution
image
We can get our kids to make them for us instead on playing on iPads
UK

Hello,
Crikey Uncle Ken that looks like a " willy warmer "..lol,am not kidding,I was given one by my mates Polish Babcia (gran) for my birthday!.(1974)

Thanks for the memories!

Cheers Billy.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

Just like they used to.
I remember the big pile of boxes out the front when I was a kid. It was our job to go get a bunch of boxes for the groceries while mum was at the checkout.

Hello,
Most country and rural WA stores (IGA) still do it!

Cheers Billy.

[Uncle_Ken]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

Hello,
Crikey Uncle Ken that looks like a " willy warmer "..lol,am not kidding,I was given one by my mates Polish Babcia (gran) for my birthday!.(1974)

Thanks for the memories!

Cheers Billy.

I was just 'trying to get a rise' from the forum Arh memories (knitting that is not the other)
UK

[Cav]

This thread is getting outa hand.

So many opinions

So many good suggestions

But let's not forget the reason for the ban of single use bags in Oz - ah, it's for the environment and the turtles, I think.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by Cav

This thread is getting outa hand.

So many opinions

So many good suggestions

But let's not forget the reason for the ban of single use bags in Oz - ah, it's for the environment and the turtles, I think.

Hello,
Without all these opinions ( even the funny ones ) there would be no thread,I don't think folk here want "serious" and a bit of levity is good!
When I think of coming to this forum I am not "slowsnake" I am a Senator in a Roman Forum challenging the rights of the Emporer to deny me Legionnaire Slowsnake my voice! ..lol,hahaha....

Cheers Gwilyn.

PS..why did you think this thread was getting out of hand?