Woolworths will stop selling 15 cent reusable bags this month

Australian consumers are facing a plastic bag revolution in just days, with major changes taking effect in New South Wales and Western Australia in the coming weeks.

NSW will ban lightweight plastic bags from June 1, while supermarket Woolworths will stop selling its 15c reusable plastic bags in all stores in WA from July.

The supermarket giant will only offer its paper, green fabric and Bag for Good alternatives when a statewide ban on plastic bags takes effect from July.

“Over the next month, we will be phasing out plastic shopping bags from our stores and online orders across WA, as we work to support the WA Government’s upcoming plastic bag ban,” said said Woolworths State Chief Executive Karl Weber.

“This change will see over 30 million plastic bags taken out of circulation in WA every year – which is a big win for the health of our oceans and waterways.

“While our paper bags will continue to be available, the most durable bag you can use is the one you bring from home.”

Over 80% of shoppers bring their own bags to supermarkets, meaning the latest change will impact a small number of customers.

“The vast majority of our customers already bring their own reusable bags to the store, which is the best outcome for the environment, and we encourage customers to continue their great work,” Weber said.

“We know the change brought about by this new WA legislation may be an adjustment for some customers and we thank them in advance for their support as we all work together to become greener.”

Customers will be reminded of the impending change through in-store advertisements.

Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the state was leading the way by banning single-use plastics across Australia.

“Western Australia has a strong track record of reducing single-use plastics in the environment and has been named the country’s top jurisdiction two years in a row by WWF Australia, for ongoing work,” a- he declared.

“The WA community has shown overwhelming support for this – and I want to thank everyone, including Woolworths, who have embraced these significant changes.”

The paper bag will cost 20c and can carry up to 6kgs of groceries.

Woolworths was the first supermarket to ditch single-use plastic bags in 2018.

The reusable plastic bag was introduced for 15 cents and was sold as a cheaper alternative to its 99c cloth bags.

Plastic items will be banned in two stages across Western Australia.

The first step includes banning heavy plastic bags, plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, stirrers, straws, polystyrene take-out food containers and helium balloon releases.

Stage two will ban thin plastic food bags, cotton swabs with plastic stems, polystyrene packaging, microbeads, oxodegradable plastics, take-out coffee cups and lids, and polystyrene cups.

This change will come into effect at the end of 2022.

Companies that violate the ban face steep fines of up to $5,000.

Meanwhile, the NSW Environment Protection Authority has given more details of other products facing the upcoming state ban.

Firing line items include single-use plastic cutlery, straws, stirrers, plates, bowls, chopsticks and spoons.

Other products being phased out are cotton swabs and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foodservice items.

Plastic microbeads found in rinse-off personal care products – used to exfoliate and scrub – will also be banned.

The supply of all these materials will be phased out by November 1, 2022.

The New South Wales parliament passed the ‘groundbreaking’ legislation in November last year which will phase out the supply of problematic single-use plastic items.