June 1 is the official first day of the single use plastic bag ban with more single use plastic items to follow in November.
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So what does this mean?
Retailers can no longer provide plastic bags for purchased items, so make sure you bring your own re-usable bags.
Most people are already using reusable bags and have been for some time; the June 1 legislation just formalises it.
Compostable bags have also been included in this ban, as many of these aren't fully biodegradable and cause landfill issues
If you already have a good system in place with reusable bags, why not extend it to other single-use plastic items such as produce bags?
Although the current legislation doesn't include them, it's simple to add them to your bag stash. They are lightweight and machine washable, but sturdy enough to hold heavy fruit and veggies.
What next?
Don't throw out your current plastic bags. The best bags to use are the ones you already have. You can re-use them until they start to deteriorate, then add them to your soft plastics pile and drop off at your closest Redcycle bin (most Coles and Woolworths have these at the front of the store).
So you don't forget, place your reusable shopping bags in the car or at the front door.
If you do forget, be innovative. Grab an empty box, go 'naked' and take your trolley straight to the car and unpack into the boot, or carry the items and you'll be more likely to remember next time.
We want to help our local residential and business community prepare for the full ban on single use plastic bags and use this opportunity to introduce eco-friendly bag products into their daily lives.
There are many cost effective options available from local retailers around our region with many of our businesses preparing for the ban.
Local business Port Stephens Packaging has a team that advises businesses and consumers about alternatives to single use plastics. Most of their business customers have already transitioned to compliant shopping bags and it is expected that the balance would be making the switch. Printed paper bags have become very popular and these bags also help fund initiatives of Plastic Free Port Stephens.
They also have suitable alternatives to replace plastic straws and cutlery, plastic bowls and plates and expanded polystyrene (foam) products.
Chontelle Grecian, Plastic Free Port Stephens