Lightweight plastic shopping bags will be a thing of the past in the City of Casey when the State Government’s plastic bag ban comes into effect this November.
From Friday 1 November, it will be illegal for retailers in Victoria to supply lightweight plastic shopping bags including degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags.
Casey Council is encouraging all retailers to cease plastic bags and for shoppers to get into good bag-habits early by remembering to grab their reusable bags before they leave the house.
The community is highly supportive of the upcoming state-wide ban with more than three quarters of residents already bringing reusable bags with them.
Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon said retailers across Casey and Victoria had already chosen not to offer plastic bags.
“We have seen many retailers as well as shoppers already getting into great habits by using other resources such as empty cardboard boxes, paper bags, cloth, jute or hessian bags instead of plastic bags,” she said.
“Considering the impact of plastic pollution and the long term effects it has on the environment, the state-wide ban is the first step toward reducing plastic pollution in our environment and protecting the wildlife of Casey and Victoria.”
Although Victoria has relatively low litter rates, litter from lightweight plastic bags still poses a problem in our community and is the main source of litter Australia wide.
By the end of 2019, all states and territories across Australia, except NSW, will have banned lightweight plastic shopping bags.
Produce bags used for unpackaged foods such as fruit, meat, seafood or bread; garbage bags and bin-liners; dog waste bags will still be acceptable.
