Waste management and reduction guide for retail industry

35Section 7.Getting ready for theplastic bag banBusinesses should start planning now in the expectation that single use plastic bags will bebanned from South Australia by the end of 2008.CASE STUDYA major promotional highlight hasbeen Centro Colonnades’ successfulWorld Environment Day, ‘Swap 10plastic shopping bag for a bag ofmulch’ promotion. Shoppers areencouraged to bring along usedplastic bags in exchange for a bagof Cottage Mulch, produced throughthe centre’s BiobiN organic storage/collection system. A great exampleof the recycle loop. Over 5000plastic shopping bags are recycledthrough the centre’s plastic recyclingsystem each promotion, and overthe past 3 years that’s over 18 000recycled plastic bags.Up to 6.9 billion plastic bags are used in Australia annually, 8% in SouthAustralia, and the majority will end up in landfill. Up to 6.01 billion of thoseare the single-use bags which will be banned in South Australia.Plastic bags take 20 to 2000 years to decompose and not only are they endingup in landfill, they’re also finding their way into stormwater, rivers and streamsand floating out to sea, where they are killing marine creatures and birds.South Australians have embraced reusable bags when shopping. They arehighly visible in supermarkets, and more and more people are using them.Zero Waste SA’s market research has found that South Australians accept theneed to stop using single-use plastic bags and consider that once they havebeen banned, shoppers and retailers will quickly adapt.What you can do■ Don’t stockpile a large volume of single use plastic bags – you will not beable to use them from the end of 2008.■ Offer reusable bag options with your logo printed for sale to customers,such as recycled paper, calico, polypropylene (green bags). A list of suppliersproviding an alternative to plastic bags can be found on Zero Waste SA’swebsite at www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/pdf/plastic_bag_alternatives.pdf.Also check out:■ Planet Ark at: www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/59/newsDate/7/story.htm■ KESAB environmental solutions atwww.kesab.asn.au/betterbag/index.htm■ In the lead up to the banning of the bags, train staff to ask customers‘Do you need a bag?’ with their purchase and to pack an appropriateamount of items in each bag.■ Begin a plastic bag reuse system. Display signs reminding customersto bring their own bags and provide incentives through specialpromotional activities.