Lightweight plastic shopping bags will be a thing of the past in Wodonga when the Victorian plastic bag ban comes into effect on November 1.
The Victorian community is highly supportive of the statewide ban with more than three quarters of residents already bringing reusable bags with them when shopping for food, as well as other items, like clothes and shoes.
Wodonga Council encourages local residents to build better bag habits now to be ready for the ban.
“We know a lot of people are already saying no to plastic bags but by remembering your bags, like your wallet, keys and phone, will turn that into an everyday habit,” Cr Kat Bennett said.
To help local residents prepare for the ban, Wodonga Council is teaming up with Sustainability Victoria as part of its Better Bag Habits campaign to help residents change their bag behaviour ahead of the ban.
Some simple tips to build better bag habits include:
- Before you leave home remember: Bag, Wallet, Keys and Phone
- Keep your bags at the front door, at work or in the car so you are more likely to remember them
- Keep a foldable bag with you throughout the day in your handbag or backpack
- Get used to saying ‘no bag please’ as the checkout
- Take a bag or container at lunchtime when purchasing food from cafes and restaurants
Local residents are pleased to see the ban come in to place, with many having already used reusable bags for many years.
The lightweight plastic bag ban affects plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less, including degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags. It applies to all retailers, including supermarkets, food outlets, clothing stores, markets, cafes, bakeries, greengrocers and many more.
Banning lightweight plastic bags is the first step toward reducing plastic pollution in our environment and protecting wildlife. We believe these are compelling enough reasons to support the ban and we want to help make it as easy as possible for residents to build better bag habits.
