https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

Is that 1.5 billion ‘saved’ just by Queenslanders? If so, that’s 319 bags for every adult, child, and infant in the State.

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

And the world didn’t fall apart.

captain_spalding said:

Is that 1.5 billion ‘saved’ just by Queenslanders? If so, that’s 319 bags for every adult, child, and infant in the State.

No, the Coles and Woolworths bans have been nationwide. The Queensland ban just occurred at roughly a similar time.

So it works out to about 5 bags per week per person. That’s a big higher than I would expect, but not amazingly so, people usually get a lot of bags on a grocery run.

sarahs mum said:

And the world didn’t fall apart.

It’s nice when something actually gets better.

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Cymek said:

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

> 1.5 billion bags

That’s 3 per person per week. It looks high but it is possible. We used to use about 1 per person per week.

I wonder how much plastic as a percentage has been saved or spent? I bought another green bag last week. And many people will now have to buy bags to hold rubbish.

mollwollfumble said:

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

> 1.5 billion bags

That’s 3 per person per week. It looks high but it is possible. We used to use about 1 per person per week.

I wonder how much plastic as a percentage has been saved or spent? I bought another green bag last week. And many people will now have to buy bags to hold rubbish.

I opt for no bags. I get two per fortnight anyway. One has all the deli in it. The other my smoking requisites.

dv said:

Cymek said:

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

I’m not complaining as it’s a start, should have a concerted effort to clean them up everywhere.
Could offer money per some weight like they do with cans, bottles, etc

dv said:

Cymek said:

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

Still, you gotta start somewhere.

mollwollfumble said:

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

> 1.5 billion bags

That’s 3 per person per week. It looks high but it is possible. We used to use about 1 per person per week.

I wonder how much plastic as a percentage has been saved or spent? I bought another green bag last week. And many people will now have to buy bags to hold rubbish.

It really depends on how long you’ll keep that green bag before dispensing of it. We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

In that time, in the alternative model where we just use disposable shopping bags, we might have used (5 bags a week per person times 4 people times 4 years times 52 weeks a year) = holy shit like 13000 disposable plastic bags!

So I think these green bags are carrying their weight, so to speak.

Fair point about the people who used to use the disposal bags as rubbish bags, it would be interesting to see some stats on that.

dv said:

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, ………………………………………..

No they don’t. They pile it all back in the trolley, walk off down the street to where ever it is that they may go, then dump the trolley. Dumped shopping trolleys litter the streets (and who knows where else) round my parts since the ban.

Cymek said:

dv said:

Cymek said:

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

I’m not complaining as it’s a start, should have a concerted effort to clean them up everywhere.
Could offer money per some weight like they do with cans, bottles, etc

In fact why don’t they offer money for all rubbish picked up anywhere, could be income for homeless people and that’s not me being horrible.
Put aside a few million and see how it goes,

Cymek said:

dv said:

Cymek said:

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

I’m not complaining as it’s a start, should have a concerted effort to clean them up everywhere.
Could offer money per some weight like they do with cans, bottles, etc

Seems like that would be open to scamming. Maybe just have a government funded cleanup program.

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

> 1.5 billion bags

That’s 3 per person per week. It looks high but it is possible. We used to use about 1 per person per week.

I wonder how much plastic as a percentage has been saved or spent? I bought another green bag last week. And many people will now have to buy bags to hold rubbish.

It really depends on how long you’ll keep that green bag before dispensing of it. We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

In that time, in the alternative model where we just use disposable shopping bags, we might have used (5 bags a week per person times 4 people times 4 years times 52 weeks a year) = holy shit like 13000 disposable plastic bags!

So I think these green bags are carrying their weight, so to speak.

Fair point about the people who used to use the disposal bags as rubbish bags, it would be interesting to see some stats on that.

4 years 14 years

dv said:

Cymek said:

dv said:

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

I’m not complaining as it’s a start, should have a concerted effort to clean them up everywhere.
Could offer money per some weight like they do with cans, bottles, etc

Seems like that would be open to scamming. Maybe just have a government funded cleanup program.

Could be yes, government funded clean up program is an idea

This talk of rubbish reminds me someone dumped a whole lot of rubbish in the empty block opposite our house, better see if I can get it removed by the council

I’ve used hardy zip-up bags for my shopping for many years, and green bags before that, since the turn of the century. Apart from any other consideration, as a pedestrian I have to carry my shopping home and the plastic bags are too fragile for that.

But I still use a few plastic bags when purchasing various veg & fruit (the small ones you tear off the rolls provided), which I then use as rubbish bags in the kitchen bin. And in the non-recycling wheelie bin I use the giant black garbage bags designed for them.

Bubblecar said:

I’ve used hardy zip-up bags for my shopping for many years, and green bags before that, since the turn of the century. Apart from any other consideration, as a pedestrian I have to carry my shopping home and the plastic bags are too fragile for that.

But I still use a few plastic bags when purchasing various veg & fruit (the small ones you tear off the rolls provided), which I then use as rubbish bags in the kitchen bin. And in the non-recycling wheelie bin I use the giant black garbage bags designed for them.

Yes I always tear off more than I need and stuff them in my pocket.

Peak Warming Man said:

Bubblecar said:

I’ve used hardy zip-up bags for my shopping for many years, and green bags before that, since the turn of the century. Apart from any other consideration, as a pedestrian I have to carry my shopping home and the plastic bags are too fragile for that.

But I still use a few plastic bags when purchasing various veg & fruit (the small ones you tear off the rolls provided), which I then use as rubbish bags in the kitchen bin. And in the non-recycling wheelie bin I use the giant black garbage bags designed for them.

Yes I always tear off more than I need and stuff them in my pocket.

I don’t because that’s theft.

Peak Warming Man said:

Bubblecar said:

I’ve used hardy zip-up bags for my shopping for many years, and green bags before that, since the turn of the century. Apart from any other consideration, as a pedestrian I have to carry my shopping home and the plastic bags are too fragile for that.

But I still use a few plastic bags when purchasing various veg & fruit (the small ones you tear off the rolls provided), which I then use as rubbish bags in the kitchen bin. And in the non-recycling wheelie bin I use the giant black garbage bags designed for them.

Yes I always tear off more than I need and stuff them in my pocket.

ROFL

Cymek said:

dv said:

Cymek said:

I wonder how long the flow on effect will occur to seeing less in the environment, hard to tell I imagine as they are everywhere and don’t easily break down

Look, a very long time. It’s more a matter of “the problem will now get worse slower than it would have.”

I’m not complaining as it’s a start, should have a concerted effort to clean them up everywhere.
Could offer money per some weight like they do with cans, bottles, etc

Or pay people to collect public trash. That used to happen. But someone cut all the funding.

I have no rubbish my fusion reactor uses it for fuel

Bubblecar said:

But I still use a few plastic bags when purchasing various veg & fruit (the small ones you tear off the rolls provided), ……………………………………

They aren’t free you know. You pay for ‘em.

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

dv said:

https://www.nra.net.au/media-release/1-5-billion-single-use-plastic-bags-eliminated-since-july/

A total of 1.5 billion single-use plastic carry bags have been eliminated since major supermarkets implemented their self-imposed bans in July, according to the National Retail Association (NRA).

NRA Manager of Industry Policy David Stout noted that since the introduction of reusable options at a small cost to the consumer, overall bag consumption has dropped by over 80%.

“The decision by certain retailers to no longer offer free single use plastic carry bags certainly received a hostile response from some shoppers initially, but these retailers deserve credit for dramatically reducing the number of bags in circulation,” Mr Stout said.

“The NRA has calculated that 1.5 billion bags have been saved since July 1 when Queensland banned the single use plastic carry bag.

“The bulk of shoppers now use their own bags, which has been instrumental in reducing the number of plastic bags being consumed. Indeed, some retailers are reporting reduction rates as high as 90 per cent.

> 1.5 billion bags

That’s 3 per person per week. It looks high but it is possible. We used to use about 1 per person per week.

I wonder how much plastic as a percentage has been saved or spent? I bought another green bag last week. And many people will now have to buy bags to hold rubbish.

It really depends on how long you’ll keep that green bag before dispensing of it. We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

In that time, in the alternative model where we just use disposable shopping bags, we might have used (5 bags a week per person times 4 people times 4 years times 52 weeks a year) = holy shit like 13000 disposable plastic bags!

So I think these green bags are carrying their weight, so to speak.

Fair point about the people who used to use the disposal bags as rubbish bags, it would be interesting to see some stats on that.

I don’t use green bags or re-usable plastic ones, I just put everything back into the trolley. However I now purchase polybags for my rubbish, which for some strange reason seems to have increased, perhaps I was more economical putting stuff in small bags, whereas now I just toss whatever into the larger ones. I don’t think it is anywhere near as successful as some claim, just lets the supermarkets sell more stuff.

Using plastic bags for rubbish is not the problem, if the full bags are deposited in the wheelie bin, then collected and then burnt or buried in landfill.

The bans are aimed at solving litter, not necessarily reducing plastic consumption.

party_pants said:

Using plastic bags for rubbish is not the problem, if the full bags are deposited in the wheelie bin, then collected and then burnt or buried in landfill.

The bans are aimed at solving litter, not necessarily reducing plastic consumption.

You are partly right, but I would think the people who used to dump their old poly shopping bags in the environment are not likely to worry much about dumping their other rubbish, but now unwrapped either, plus I don’t think they would be purchasing rubbish bags. As usual the culprits are very much in the minority, with most people doing the right thing, the problem is, the same minority are unlikely to change.

> We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

No way. Ours, we have at least 8, and have to buy a new one every month. One dies in about 15 uses. Because it weighs so much more than lightweight bags …

I still have a cupboard section of them for the rubbish. I thought I may have been getting low but found two bags at the back that were crammed with other bags. Middle of next year at least.

AwesomeO said:

I still have a cupboard section of them for the rubbish. I thought I may have been getting low but found two bags at the back that were crammed with other bags. Middle of next year at least.

I have a whole bottom drawer full. All rolled up neatly into a tight ball. I reckon about 150+.

Well fancy that. It’s pink gin o’clock.

mollwollfumble said:

> We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

No way. Ours, we have at least 8, and have to buy a new one every month. One dies in about 15 uses. Because it weighs so much more than lightweight bags …

What the heck are you doing to them? Ours are unchanged since the day we got them apart from some creasing.

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

> We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

No way. Ours, we have at least 8, and have to buy a new one every month. One dies in about 15 uses. Because it weighs so much more than lightweight bags …

What the heck are you doing to them? Ours are unchanged since the day we got them apart from some creasing.

I don’t think Moll can touch anything without buggering it.

Bogsnorkler said:

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

> We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

No way. Ours, we have at least 8, and have to buy a new one every month. One dies in about 15 uses. Because it weighs so much more than lightweight bags …

What the heck are you doing to them? Ours are unchanged since the day we got them apart from some creasing.

I don’t think Moll can touch anything without buggering it.

Passionfingers-can’t touch it without fucking it.

Bogsnorkler said:

dv said:

mollwollfumble said:

> We’ve had ours since we came back to Australia, four years, and they are showing no significant signs of wear and could probably be used another ten years easy. They are hardy.

No way. Ours, we have at least 8, and have to buy a new one every month. One dies in about 15 uses. Because it weighs so much more than lightweight bags …

What the heck are you doing to them? Ours are unchanged since the day we got them apart from some creasing.

I don’t think Moll can touch anything without buggering it.

Not true. I’m absolutely not standard when it comes to destroying things I touch. Half the population is worse than me. Half better.

mollwollfumble said:

Bogsnorkler said:

dv said:

What the heck are you doing to them? Ours are unchanged since the day we got them apart from some creasing.

I don’t think Moll can touch anything without buggering it.

Not true. I’m absolutely not standard when it comes to destroying things I touch. Half the population is worse than me. Half better.

Dang spell checker. “Bog standard”.

Ours are looking a a bit worse for wear, but we’ve had them a long time, easily more than 5 years. Most of them are hand-me-downs from mum. No idea how I ended up with them all.

I’ve been fine with remembering to take them grocery shopping, it’s remembering to take them to Westfield that’s been hard.

I also have reusable straws (stainless steel), reusable Boost cups and reusable slurpee bottle.

next, 80% reduction in CO2 emissions if someone got guts to ban