So I was at Colesworth today buying some groceries and I was forced to buy plastic bags to put my stuff in. It made me realise that I don’t actually use fewer plastic bags, it just means I’m paying for them instead of the supermarket. Nice little scam they’ve got there btw. Have you cut down on the number of plastic bags you use at the supermarket?
Do You Actually Use Fewer Plastic Bags Now We Have to Pay for Them?
Comments
I thought about using biodegradable bin liners, they cost not that much more than normal bin liners. But I read that they only break down if you compost them, ie at temperatures above 45degrees, which doesn't happen in the landfill normally. I could be wrong, not having a strong opinion either way.
You are correct it does depend on the type of bag for it to biodegrade correctly. The problem is there are no legal guidelines for businesses to follow so they make it the cheapest way to make profits. Obviously there are businesses that don’t do that but they’re a dime a dozen nowadays.
Some are specifically labelled as landfill biodegradable like these ones - https://www.biogone.com.au/product-category/biodegradable-pl…. They get broken down by microbes rather than heat. Something that will break down in my life time and won't create microplastics is still better than regular old plastic made of fossil fuels, it's still not great but besides using paper and hoping nothing soaks through there's no better options.
Some of the older biodegradable bags were actually banned last month, because they were regular plastic that just disintegrated faster, they weren't actually better. I think the technology is starting to catch up with the need to get rid of plastic.
Ones with the home compostable logo have to break down in home compost within 12 months, so they're obviously a lot better. But if you don't have a compost bin they're not very useful.
I just want to point out biodegradable plastics is not what the general population think what happens.
you still end up with microplastics but faster.
plastic is plastic, the worst part is that industries that are leaning hard on $10 plastic appliances that people use a couple of times to dump. on top of all the other plastic related problems.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.7b04051
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09596…
The available evidence suggests that the residence time of biodegradable plastics in the natural environment is less than that of conventional plastics, but degradation is highly dependent upon environmental conditions and they still undergo processes that generate microplastics.
Absolutely. I probably should have clarified landfill biodegradable is a specific thing and even then it's relying on what the company says it is. They do claim there are no microplastics and that it's specifically tailored to turn into mush in landfill and not microplastics. It's different to most other biodegradable bags.
Stick one of those bags in the ocean though and they'll take forever to break down and still cause havoc.
@freefall101: it's a rock and hard place imo. (according to those papers i shared, and they are not the only ones) with bigger plastics, you can filter, with nano/micro plastics, it gets eaten by sea creatures and it goes into our food chain.
i think the general conclusion is that bigger pieces makes filtering easier so it's a better position than having heaps of nano/micro plastics in the environment.
it doesn't mean that people just go back to doing what they were. It means humans must understand that biodegradeable plastics is only part of the solution, avoiding wonton use of plastics help to slow things down.
@slowmo: Yeah, all the solutions we have are "less bad" rather than good. Although supposedly the ones I linked to further up don't create microplastics at all, I think they're made of plant starch, but who knows in reality - unless they've been tested properly it's hard to believe the manufacturers claims.
There's also the problem that the less plastic we use, the more food spoilage goes up. Pretty much impossible to get meat without plastic involved unless you're buying from the butcher wrapped in paper and using that day. It's a lose-lose situation until we invent a new, better, cheap material.
May I suggest you design Kangaroo trousers, Kangaroo jackets. Sell it for 20% less than Macpac and you'll have a chance to make enough money to buy all the plastic bags you will ever need plus some.
Nope. I don't use fewer bags.
Each time I go to Woolies, I pay for the $0.15 bags. I've got a drawer of them. I hang one off my cabinet door as a rubbish bag and toss it down the garbage chute when it's full.
I use them in exactly the same way I did with the previous bags that were free. Except these are much thicker and use a whole lot more plastic.
Well the first step is admitting your faults. Try to do better!
I don't carry plastic bags with me everywhere I go. If I decide to go shopping on the way home after work, I'll go. So if anyone has a better suggestion, let's hear it…..
The Woolies canvas bags fold up neatly into a rectangle if you keep the plastic inserts. Otherwise they've got the 99c foldable bag that rolls up into a tube smaller than most wallets: I can cram one into the coin pocket on my jeans if I roll it up tight enough.
@monky: I already hate carrying my wallet, keys and an extra work phone in my suit pockets. I'm not going to carry an extra bag around all day just in case I feel like going shopping.
If I'm going directly from my home to the supermarket, then that's a different story.
@bobbified: Oh sorry, I didn't realize you were a big-shot businessman with a suit and extra work phone.
Idk man, just keep doing what you're doing I guess, can't figure out solutions for every niche use-case. Those bags aren't made for landfill or recycling though, unless you take them into the store; and nobody expects you to take time out of your busy, wallet-hating day to do that.
Pollute in ignorance, friendo. ✌
@monky: Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearin' businessman like bob. You know I'm just a gangsta, I suppose. And I would probably just keep a few bags in the car / work bag/briefcase….
@monky: It's not about being a businessman or whatever. Maybe you've never worn a suit before, but it's not the exactly the most comfortable thing to be in all day already. Add extra weights to the pockets and I just end up walking lopsided!
Pollute in ignorance, friendo.
How many trees have you hugged today? lol
Add extra weights to the pockets and I just end up walking lopsided!
Add a couple more extra weights on top of that and you'll be walking in circles!
@OneJay: LOL.. I wondered before if it was an only-me problem, but I see lots of other guys hold their wallets and phones in their hands while they're walking too.
@bobbified: Am I the only man here secure enough to just get a (profanity) bag? I am also a super important business guy wearing a suit, I just have a nice over the shoulder leather bag which has ample room for wallet, keys AND supermarket bags. As well as all of the important papers I need to do a business, of course.
@monky: Condom holds a lot, also doesn't break too easily. Can fit in a business suit pocket. After shopping he can line bin with it. As an added bonus, he looks prepared for a good night out.
@bobbified: Get yourself a backpack or satchel. Seriously, so much better than weighing down your pockets. Sounds like carrying an extra thing would make things worse but I guess because of weight distribution it doesn't feel as bad as heavy pockets. These days I never leave home without one.
Maybe - Put 'em in the boot of your car
Are you a grown adult?
Maybe - Put 'em in the boot of your car
Not everyone has the privilege of driving to and from work.
Like I said earlier, if I was going directly from home to the supermarket, then that's an easy one. I mostly eat out or get takeaway but sometimes, if I can't think of what I feel like eating, I'll stop by the supermarket last minute to get some stuff to cook.
Surely I'm not the only one here that does this…..
@bobbified: My missus walks everywhere and has a handful of the wrap-able bags in her back back. I just don't know what you're expecting, here. Permission to keep using the plastic bags?
I just don't know what you're expecting, here. Permission to keep using the plastic bags?
I'm not expecting anything here. The question was asked about whether we now use fewer plastic bags (because we have to pay for them) and my answer is no.
@ThithLord: haha yes, you're right! My bad. (It was rhetorical question in my mind as I was typing it).
The idea of reusing plastic bags doesn't work for everyone in every situation and some people (not you) don't seem to be willing to accept that.
The idea of reusing plastic bags doesn't work for everyone in every situation
C'mon man now you're putting caveats in people's mouths. No-one said you have to use reusable bags every time. Of course there will be situations where it's not possible.
But you simply are not making the effort - you admitted it straight away:
Each time I go to Woolies, I pay for the $0.15 bags. I've got a drawer of them. I hang one off my cabinet door as a rubbish bag and toss it down the garbage chute when it's full.
@ThithLord: On the way home from work (even though it's not that often) is when I would normally stop by the supermarket. And since I don't carry the bags with me everywhere I go, then yes, pretty much each time I go, I get a new one.
It seems like I'm not the only one using those bags as rubbish bags afterwards either. When you buy things like meat and other things from the fridge, the inside of the bag is often wet as well. Do people just put them away and reuse them later?
@bobbified: ok, after reading your posts I have a solution for you (since you asked). Since you don't drive to work I'm guessing you take public transport? I'm also guessing you take a bag to and back from work each day.
Can you leave some of those small roll up shopping bags in your bag and just use those each time?
Since you don't drive to work I'm guessing you take public transport?
I actually walk to the office most times if I do go in. It's a 2-2.5km walk that takes about 25 minutes. I had my chest cracked open a couple of years ago and it's not always a comfortable walk (something to do with the nerves in my chest that makes me feel numb/burning sensation every now and then), so I try and carry the absolute minimal stuff with me. If I bring my laptop, it's just that in a sleeve and I keep having to switch arms every few minutes. Otherwise I would just use a spare laptop in the office.
@bobbified: How the hell do you manage to go to the shops after work and walk home if you can't even carry a bag? And why are you walking if it's that painful? And don't you bring any food with you to work? I have so many questions
@greater mimic: I've been told that I need to be as active as I can. I seem to get the numbness and burning sensation randomly (I'd say that it's about 1 out of 3 times). It's quite frustrating and annoying and often gives that feeling of being 'useless', so when it happens, I'll push myself and try to power through it. It's much easier when I'm carrying very little or not carrying anything at all. They originally thought it was angina but multiple tests show that it's not. So they suspect it's the nerves in my chest from having had it cut open before.
There are days that I don't get it and that's when I might stay out for a bit longer and pick up a few things from the supermarket. I never bring lunch to work. I usually don't eat lunch unless I'm going with colleagues or have a client lunch.
@bobbified: I'm super confused as to how a bag that weights 10-20g and is reasonably compact is so impossible to carry around with you the whole day tbh? If that's impossible then how do you manage to carry your phone and wallet and then add a whole bag of groceries back home???
It just seems like a lack of foresight and pre-planning, in addition to effort as others have mentioned.
@kanmen: Because of my own circumstances, I just don't carry things with me unless it's necessary. IMO, a plastic bag is not an every day necessity. I'm willing to pay that $0.15 when and if I actually need it. It's as simple as that.
It just seems like a lack of foresight and pre-planning,
I already said earlier that I don't plan when I go to the supermarket. I usually eat whatever I feel like when it's time to eat. I intentionally avoid planning too much. I spend my whole day at work planning and scheduling, so outside of work, I like to enjoy the spontaneity. Perhaps you should give it a go. Life is much less stressful like that.
@bobbified: If that's your idea of spontaneity then sure go for it!
My idea of spontaneity is randomly going go-karting or going to the cinemas with friends, not deciding when and how to eat because regardless of whether I chose to eat out, buy something to cook or have things at home I'm usually prepared for it and don't feel stressed either way.
@bobbified: Maybe you could just start carrying a big with you when you head out? They're smaller and lighter than a phone, they would easily fit in any pocket. And you could leave a couple extra ones in your laptop bag too, for those sometimes you bring your laptop.
@bobbified: Clearly you are in the wrong as lots of comments against what you’ve been saying. I hate to say this but no wonder you have health issues with an attitude like that. You’re basically saying it’s someone else’s problem I don’t need to care about it.
@bobwokeup: Just looking at your comments in this thread alone, like this, this, this and this, (and that's just a small sample), you clearly think you're morally superior. lol
I could direct a few things at you on a more personal level based on your post and comment history, but I'm not going to stoop down to your level.
@bobbified: If you look at a huge majority of the replies to you none of them agree with you, so yes I probably did let my emotion get the better of me but it’s better than living selfishly like you do.
@bobbified: I have a laptop sleeve with thick plastic bag in it for when I drop by the shops on the way home.
You seem to have extremely unique circumstances so I'd just keep using a plastic bag if you really cannot conceive any way to carry one and don't worry about what the internet tells you. But if you can think of one (i.e. stick it in the laptop sleeve) then maybe it's worth it.
Also a backpack is way easier to carry a laptop than in a sleeve, much better for you.
Should probably plan your trips to the supermarket rather than deciding on a whim…
Take a box from the shelf and put your stuff in that?
I'm impressed you actually generate one bag of rubbish for every grocery bag you have
Nowhere near. It's probably a 4:1 ratio. Hence, the excess bags in a drawer.
Again you missed the point.
WOW it’s people like you that are the reason we have environmental issues. How about using a fold up reusable bag or a backpack. So many options but you take the lazy way out and the non-OzBargain way. The change was also designed to get people to think about their usage and use less plastic/materials in general.
I really love your holier-than-thou attitude….
I suppose you live in your solar-powered home that is self-sufficient and don't ever drive anywhere in a car?
Yes and no - I try to do what is right but live my life at the same time. I know that is lost on you, so hopefully one day you figure it out.
Some humans evolve, others don't. You keep swinging from the trees!
@Hardlyworkin: You've obviously conveniently forgotten about how much pollution you contributed from going on your flights from here to LAX. I wonder what the equivalent number of plastic bags would be.
Oh wait… but that's okay because you're saving one or two bags each week by bringing your own to the supermarket.
@bobbified: Nice work detective Bob. I'm sure you could dig into my life further and find plenty of things I do that negatively contribute to the environment because of life choices like visiting my family for the first time in years. In my view there is a difference between enriching my life to the detriment of the environment and my laziness causing environmental harm. I'm far from perfect though each year I try to be a bit better.
@Hardlyworkin: I don't need to be a detective to know that we all contribute to pollution on way or another. I didn't have to look very far. I'm merely reminding everyone that those living in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
As others have already mentioned, it's a bit hypocritical of some to drive a huge 4WD to the supermarket and then bang on about how they help the environment by bringing their own bag. Of course, they'll always have a justification for their actions.
@bobbified: Why not throw stones? I'm aware of my glass house, what harm is it causing to lob a few grenades? Stopping single use plastic has a positive impact on our marine life, something I work to protect.
Genuine question, do you just straight up not care about the environmental impact?
No, I just put more money in Woolies' and Coles' coffers.
Since the start of Covid, I have done 80% of my shopping through C&C. For most of that time Coles forced you to get it in their bags and Woolworths at certain times so I now have hundreds of them. My husband folds them like in the video. It's actually quite like occupational therapy. They are then easy to carry in all bags and backpacks. All the other bags that come into the house are used as bin liners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl75YtxUkXQthere is an option to use your own bags
How does that work?
Do they send someone to your house to collect your bags, then that person goes to the store and puts your C&C things in them before bringing them back to your house?
That sounds wasteful.
No they usually have it in a trolley and then you pack everything into your own bags. No waste at all.
Have been using the same handful of canvas bags that woolies gave out for free what feels like a decade ago when they introduced them.
Had to re-stitch handles, mend holes and even get replacements when I've been lazy, but they're honestly super durable for what you pay.
The only places that give out single-use bags anymore are my local chippie and family-run grocery.
No. I use the plastic bags as bin liners. I like the new bags, they are thick and watertight so you can pee in the bin if you wanted and it won't leak out.
Dudes rock moment for sure 👍
you can pee in the bin i
Well I guess if you gotta go…
Just try to keep the splash back away from the kitchen walls would ya
thanks for the tip, plastic bin liners i get always rip and it's a pain in the arse.
At the supermarket I grab an empty box from a shelf and pack my groceries in that.
Box then goes in to my recycling bin
Definitely not for me. I do bring my re-useable bag a lot more often and don't pickup bags as much from the shop. But I end up buying trash bags anyway for my trash where before I used to just use the shopping bags. So I feel like its all equaled out except I pay more money.
Nice little scam they’ve got there btw.
Really you just figured this out ???
A scam is not having a choice.no one ever needs to buy a bag, so the joke is on the knobs who contribute..
Yep, it's like a way of fining idiots/people who don't care about the environment. Sounds good.
In Tassie we've had reusable plastic bags since like 2013 or something
I swear I end up buying one ($0.15) every time I go shopping because I forget to take one and end up with a huge pile at home.
I take how many bags I think I'll need into the shop in mind of what I came for. When they're full I check out. Saves me heaps from buying crap I didn't need anyway
Always carry one in bag or in pocket.
My use of the single plastic bags would have reduced by about 90-95%, if not more. I rarely ever have to buy a new bag. Just have a heap in my boot and always grab one or two when I am heading to the shops.
Didn't use plastic bags b4 the ban. Been taking my own for 20+ years
🙌🏽🙌🏽
No
They're just much quality garbage bags. It was a stupid idea to replace plastic bags with plastic bags. That's just common sense 🤣🤣Good question, I have considered the same thing. I use fewer bags for sure and I reuse much more but I do still have to buy bags at a much higher cost now.
All the changes was that the supermarkets shifted the cost of bags onto the consumer with assistance by the government.
Taking that one step further, I have a feeling that the supermarkets were a part of the process to implement this environmental control because ultimately it earns them more revenue!
Never any need to buy a bag. If it earns revenue it's lazy people doing it and this country is full of them. The mentality of people amazes me.
I have bags in my car and never forget them. Pretty silly financially to buy bags and terrible for the environment. They should make the bags $1 and people might start to use their brain more and cause less waste of resources. Why is it so hard to remember. I have been using reusable bags for nearly 15yrs.
The bag thing has been here in SA for a few years now. I kept forgetting to bring a bag a few times then just carried what I bought rather than buy a bag. That process really helped the memory.
We have some fabric bags, some Willow soft esky’s that we got on clearance a while ago and some of the 10c Coles bags that we have been unable to avoid when doing the odd online shop.
No problem.Glad to see it in and hope it starts to change behaviours. If you have any respect for marine life you will make an effort to reduce plastic (and other) pollution.
And if you don’t, you are a bad person - buy a secondhand European vehicle or a Jeep. You deserve it.🤣Perspective is everything.
Coming from EU, where the single-use plastic has been banned around 15 years go (depending on country), never had a need for this crap. When moved to AU it felt awkward that many retailers didn't even ask and shoved single item in a bag before handing over. Don't get me started on those weird bakeries where every single biscuit is individually wrapped in non-recyclable thin plastic wrapper.Some of the fabric bags that I have are up to 20 years old, going strong. Once or twice I had to stitch the handle, and you occasionally toss them in washing machine, but otherwise they're strong and convenient.
I was forced to buy plastic bags to put my stuff in
how did they do that?
Gun to his head obviously!
You fell for their scam. Never buy their bags.
If you forget to BYO, it takes hours at self checkout to transfer back to trolley after weighing, keeping what hasn't been scanned separate. It's a pain, but we have to make a stand.Plastic was stopped in Woolworths in WA months ago, it's all paper bags like we used to have in the 70s. So now we just cut down trees for the many people like you. If Australia had any common sense it would do away with bags all together like Europe. Force all the nancies to be grown up and set themselves out and stop being a disposable society. Putting a piss take post like this up is just asking for the kick.lol
I never buy plastic bags anymore. If I am offered one, I say "NO, I have my own". I take my green bags. They last forever and can hold quite a lot. If I am just meeting a friend (not intending to purchase anything), I have a spare re-usable bag, I can take out and use.
I always think we need to participate with as many environmentally progressive solutions. Even if they aren't perfected yet it is important we all participate and try. This stimulates and finances research into better and more effective ways/ products/ services. When there are controversies about whether something is worse or better for the environment (like electric cars or solar etc) it is even more important to invest in it because clearly we are getting closer to the goal of a cleaner world (global warming or not I like the cleaner greener options anyways) and investing in it means you vote with your feet. It shows you have an interest in a cleaner world.
As for plastic shopping bags… compostible bin liners cost about 10-20c per liner, so we may gain little by using reusable baskets and then buying liners for the bin… but it's a start! Maybe we will find better ways to avoid bin liners next! I also re-used disposable plastic bags for lunch and other things, all of which cost about 10-20c each…. but look at all the plastic shopping bags blowing around beaches and floating in oceans! *** So that is why I still like the idea, even though to me personally it may not make much sense ***.
Coles home delivery. You don't get any choice about using plastic.
I use that too.
After you’ve unpacked, fold the plastic bags and leave them by the door next time you have delivery, they will be picked up and reused.
I believe they donate proceeds from those bags at places like comes/woolies, so there's at least that.
If they really cared about the environment, they would be selling us the enviro bags for 15C and not the plastic ones.
Just more corpo virtue signalling for profit.
Yea that extra 85c for the cloth bag just kills the whole deal
I use the same amount of plastic and generate the same amount of plastic waste as I did before. Now instead of reusing light thin free plastic bags that fail fairly quickly I reuse thicker plastic bags that I have to pay for but last longer.
There are landfill biodegradable bin liners. While it's not a great product it at least doesn't create microplastics, are made of plants, and break down in decades instead of centuries like regular plastic (or as they phrase it, in 90%+ less time! Which can still mean decades).
Between redcycling, making a few efforts to cut down on waste most of my garbage is just food scraps anyway. The problem is it's hard to find somewhere to take those as compost donations these days. Otherwise I'd probably only have two bags of rubbish a month.