The push for a nation-wide ban on single-use plastic bags has been underway for such a long time. It’s exciting to see it finally becoming a reality, with each state pursuing its own legislative amendments, and bans already implemented or pending in all states and territories except New South Wales.

While finding suitable, cost-effective and functional alternatives has been a challenge, it’s been far more difficult for environmentally-committed retailers who wanted to go it alone without legislative amendments, to bring their customers along on the journey.

Target, for example, launched its own ban in 2009, but ended up reinstating the bags in 2013 after endless complaints from consumers who opposed having to pay 10 to 20 cents for biodegradable versions.

By establishing these bans as government initiatives, everyone is in the same position, which takes retailers out of the firing line.

It may surprise you to know the coastal Tasmanian town of Coles Bay was the first cab off the rank to ban single-use bags all the way back in 2003, and it’s been a bumpy road to reach an almost nation-wide adoption.

The first moves toward a nation-wide ban were in 2008 by then-Environment Minister Peter Garrett, but that ended up on the scrapheap due to disagreements between the states and territories.

But, things did start to move that year. South Australia introduced its Zero Waste program, and banned lightweight plastic bags from 2009, signalling fines of up to $5000 for retailers and up to $20,000 for retail suppliers.

The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory followed in 2011, and Tasmania in 2013.

Despite the initial opposition, these bans have been successful in all four jurisdictions, resulting in significant reductions to the number of bags ending up in landfill and waterways.

Queensland and Western Australia will roll out bans from July 1, 2018, with the NRA partnering with the Queensland government to help retailers right across the state prepare. Victoria has also announced they are banning plastic bags although they have not announced a roll out date as yet.

While New South Wales is the only jurisdiction remaining (and with no intentions at this stage of moving on the issue), we have been heartened to see the two biggest supermarkets in the nation, Woolworths and Coles, commit to voluntarily removing free lightweight bags in all stores from July 1, 2018.