Train yourself to live free of plastic bags

Dunedin environmental advocates say a long-heralded move by supermarkets to get rid of single-use plastic carry bags is a good first step.

They say consumers will need to train themselves to live without plastic, but that process is not a major undertaking.

Countdown supermarkets across Dunedin and Mosgiel will stop using single-use plastic carry bags on August 13.

Countdown Mailer Street, Dunedin Central, Dunedin South, Andersons Bay and Mosgiel will join supermarkets in Southland and Queenstown, and a further 32 stores across New Zealand, to phase them out.

New World has said it will get rid of its single-use bags by the end of the year.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said single-use plastic bags were a huge problem for the environment, and the costs of dealing with them went to ratepayers.

Getting rid of them would reduce waste to landfill and the threat to wildlife.

Dunedin sustainable education and business consultant Niki Bould said people had to train themselves to get used to life after single-use bags, making sure they had reusable bags with them at the supermarket.

"It's a mindset.''

On people who said they needed a bag for their inside bin, she said that was "laziness''.

"Get over it, you don't need it.''

Dr Bould said compostable materials should be composted rather than thrown in an inside bin, which were easy to clean with cloths and spray cleaners.

"Yes I can see why people are going to get grumpy about it, but a lot of people have been talking about this for decades.

"There's many people in Dunedin who live without plastic bags, and really, it does not affect your life.''

Plastic bags ended up in waterways and oceans.

"That's what motivates me and has driven me for the last 15 years to do this, because I don't want those plastic bags to be in our oceans.''

On the decision to get rid of single-use bags, she said it was "a step in the right direction''.

"I'm really excited something is going to happen.''

She hoped it would motivate other big corporations to also make changes.

Bags for Good co-ordinator Fiona Jenkin's organisation makes hand-sewn reusable bags that can be borrowed from shops by people who had forgotten their bags, and returned later.

"It's a way of training yourself to remember to bring them back.''

The organisation was keen to expand the programme, was talking to more outlets, and was "definitely keen'' to provide them in supermarkets as it grew.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz


 

Comments

Nothing but virtue signalling. The Australian Productivity Commission produced a thorough report that concluded the removal of supermarket bags was of no measurable benefit to the environment.
The change in Australia has forced supermarkets to give heavier bags away free.
The green-left agenda marches virtuously along.

I could shake people who do not see what is happening to our planet and seek justifications for not changing their habits. It has nothing to do with colour or agendas- it has to do with observation and intelligence.
Take it from and oldie who was around before the plastic industry invaded.

"Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said single-use plastic bags were a huge problem for the environment, and the costs of dealing with them went to ratepayers". Yet the DCC will not collect your rubbish unless it is in one of their expensive single-use plastic bags. The council also refuse to offer a green waste collection service. Not everyone has the space to compost their own vegetable waste and you also have to be aware that most compost piles will attract vermin and pests.

Dunedin waste management is under review and we all had an opportunity to have our say about it.

David, you should genuinely contact Dave Cull/Sue Bidrose and try find out why they won't collect soft plastic (chip/biscuit etc packets, plastic bags, courier bags, plastic wrap, lolly wrappers etc) alongside/with/for Cargill Enterprises, who currently have the plastic bag bins at supermarkets, Mitre 10, The Warehouse etc.

I talked to someone at Cargill Enterprises ages ago, and they told me the council have no interest in coming on board with it and he doubts they ever will.

Just find it a little hypocritical of Dave Cull to say "single-use plastic bags were a huge problem for the environment" etc but then not take action on the current option of recycling a heck of a lot of soft plastics, that Cargill are doing.

I personally know a number of people who just keep throwing these packets in the bin because they can't be bothered taking them to a bin at a supermarket etc...

 

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