Businesses in Ballarat are preparing for a ban on single-use plastic shopping bags that will come into effect in Victoria on November 1.
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All retailers including supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, take away food outlets and clothing stores will be banned from supplying lightweight plastic shopping bags below a certain thickness under the new law.
Biodegradable, degradable and compostable lightweight plastic bags are included under the ban.
A seminar to prepare for the change was held at Federation University in July and a representative from the National Retail Association has visited hundreds of businesses in Ballarat.
Each business has got to think about what is the right solution for the long-term.
- Ebony Johnson, National Retail Association
National Retail Association project manager Ebony Johnson said while retailers were assessing the best options for bags depending on their business, it was important customers were also prepared for the change.
"Every business that sells something is affected by this ban," she said.
"We have been honing in on some of those businesses that don't realise they are affected. A lot of customers don't realise they will need to start taking reusable bags not just when they go to the supermarket, but when they leave the house."
Barrier bags for fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, garbage bags and bin liners, and animal waste bags will not be banned under the new legislation.
Ms Johnson said the solution to the ban would be different based on each type of business.
"Food is one where everyone is used to being able to pick up their takeaway food in a light-weight plastic bag but this won't be allowed as of November 1," she said.
"Take away food stores, cafes and restaurants need to consider whether they need a bag, or for example can they get away with providing two rolls of sushi in a container without a bag. For food deliveries for example, Uber Eats now offers paper bags.
"Each business has got to think about what is the right solution for the long-term."
The Victorian government advises retailers should stop buying banned bags as soon as possible and remove any existing stock before the ban comes into effect. Unused stock can not be used once the ban comes into effect.
Alternatives under consideration include paper bags, thicker plastic bags, charging for a bag or not supplying bags at all.
Every business that sells something is affected by this ban.
- Ebony Johnson, National Retail Association
Bridge Mall Traders Association general manager Germaine Davey said the traders in Bridge Mall were on board with the change and many had already transitioned to more sustainable bag options.
"We really want to be a part of creating change," she said.
"We do call out to consumers to understand this change is a legislative change. We encourage them to bring bags to the mall or purchase reusable bags in store."
Globally, thousands of tonnes of plastic enter waterways and oceans each year. It has been estimated ocean surface waters could contain over five trillion plastic pieces, weighing more than 250,000 tonnes.
Plastics in the environment break up into smaller and smaller pieces over time. This means the impacts of plastic pollution are long term, and can become increasingly difficult to manage.
A University of Queensland study showed 30 percent of turtles autopsied were found to have plastics, including plastic bags, in their intestinal tract.
The Victorian Government recognises plastic bags are only part of the problem and is developing a plastic pollution action plan to prioritise the most effective actions to reduce other types of plastic pollution.
Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group chief executive La Vergne Lehmann said the plastic bag ban was the first step to reducing reliance on all types of single-use plastic.
"One of the reasons for a plastic bag ban in the first instance is it is hard to recycle. We have enough problems with our recycling system," she said.
"This ban is a really important step in getting the community to understand avoidance is a better option than just recycling."
Many Ballarat businesses are already moving beyond the plastic bag ban to eliminate or reduce other forms of single-use plastic.
Ballarat Health Foods co-owners Tiffany Alexander and Christine Alexander have been working to reduce the store's plastic use for more than a year.
They put in bulk bins one year ago encouraging customers to bring in their own re-usable containers to purchase products. Paper carry bags are given rather than plastic bags.
"There has been a lot of customer demand for plastic free," Christine said.
Ballarat Health Foods' co-owners will continue to think about how they can minimise plastic in the store, with a few challenges to overcome like packaging their Christmas cakes and licorice.
City of Ballarat councillor Belinda Coates said growing community awareness and advocacy had been driving momentum to reduce plastic waste in Ballarat, with groups like No Waste Ballarat, Plastic Bag Free Ballarat and Boomerang Bags encouraging practical consumer and business change.
She said there was growing pressure on the state government to implement other waste reduction measures like a container deposit scheme.
Victoria is the only state or territory in Australia without a container deposit scheme or a plan to introduce one, where refunds are given for the return of beverage containers to depots for recycling.
"We know containers are a really big litter problem, almost as big of a problem as plastic bags," Cr Coates said.
"A container deposit scheme seems like such a no brainer and it is embarrasing Victoria is not on board yet.
"Given the community focus and interest on waste, recycling and the prevention of litter, you would think that would be an obvious next step."
A container deposit scheme would create higher rates of recycling by providing recyclers with quality input material free of contamination.
Meanwhile, Cr Coates said she has asked City of Ballarat for a report on plastic used at council events to be presented by the end of the year.
"I would love to see City of Ballarat really step up as a leader in that space," she said.
"We trialed some big waste reduction measures at Begonia Festival... but I would like to see us have a broader policy on waste at events."
Bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags will be in place across all Australian states and territories except New South Wales by the end of 2019.
The first bag ban came into effect in South Australia in 2009.
Visit vicbagban.com.au/ for more details on the Victorian plastic bag ban.
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