Plastic bag levy trial ends

By Kelly Yates
THE Australian-first 10-cent plastic bag levy ended in Narre Warren, Berwick and Hampton Park supermarkets last Sunday.
Shoppers at Coles, Safeway and IGA supermarkets were hit with the levy after the four-week trial began on 18 August.
Sixteen supermarkets across Victoria took part in the trial in an effort to reduce the use of plastic bags.
Minister for environment and climate change Gavin Jennings said the aim of the trial was to find the simplest and cheapest way to reduce the use of plastic bags.
“The response by these communities to the trial will inform work towards a national approach to reducing plastic bag use,” Mr Jennings said.
Chief executive of the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) Margy Osmond said retailers would not profit from the trial.
“The money raised from the 10-cent levy will be spent on community education and local environmental projects,” she said.
ANRA used the trial to see how shoppers responded to being charged for each plastic bag they used.