Plastic bags will be banned at Ballarat supermarkets in an effort to reduce environmental waste.
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The state government announced on Tuesday night that single use, lightweight plastics bags would be banned across the state from mid-next year.
Tips to avoid plastic bags
- Take reusable fabric bags at the shops. They are often cheap and will last years without wear and tear.
- Worried about those pesky fruit and vegies? You can also buy reusable, lightweight mesh bags for them as well.
- Use glass jars or tupperware containers at home to store rice, grains and other loose items. You can also take these containers to the shops for your nuts, dried fruit and deli purchases.
- Buy bio-degradable bags for bin lines – although make sure you do your research first.
Councillor welcomes change
Ballarat City councillor Belinda Coates has been a representative on the Grampians Resources Recovery Group committee and a long-time advocate of the ban.
Cr Coates said there was still a lot of detail to be revealed about the government’s new law.
“It needs to be looked at closely to see if we can learn from what has happened in other states as well, because we do know those thicker bags are an environmental hazard,” she said.
“The community has really got behind a range of different waste issues, we have never seen so much community interest in waste.
“A big environmental problem with plastic bags is they do end up in our waterways and creeks.
“Many of those end up in forests and oceans, break down and do cause an environmental problem.”
The government has promised to consult closely with businesses and the community and the best method for implementing the policy.
However its said in a media release that other jurisdictions had showed banning lightweight plastics could lead to undesirable results, including an increase in heavier plastic bags.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the ban would protect marine life and the state’s waterways.
“We will work closely with Victorian communities and businesses to design the ban, we’re proud that we’re doing our bit to reduce the impact plastic bags have,” she said.
