The Woolies and Coles stores set to ban plastic bags
A number of supermarkets across the country are getting a head start on the forthcoming plastic bag ban by ditching them months early.
From July 1, single-use plastic bags will disappear from Woolworths, Coles, Big W and BWS liquor stores across most of Australia.
But Woolworths and Coles stores in 16 suburbs across four states have announced they will get rid of the plastic as soon as Wednesday.
Woolworths confirmed to Yahoo7 on Tuesday that 12 stores will ban the bags from Wednesday 4th April, while Coles have revealed they will introduce the ban from 30th April in four stores.
The early plastic ditching was designed to “monitor the feedback from customers” before the full ban in July, a Woolworths spokesperson said.
In Victoria, Toorak, Wyndham Vale and Taylors Lakes Woolworths stores will have the early change, as will Coles in Williamstown.
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Sydney Woolworths stores in Marayong, Greenway Village and Dural will also ditch the plastic early along with Coles Balgowlah. And Mullumbimby Woolworths in regional NSW will also make the change on April 4.
In Queensland plastic bags will disappear early from Woolworths at Noosa Civic and Mossman while Coles will implement the ban at its Hope Island store.
Singleton, South Fremantle and Cottesloe Woolworths and Inglewood Coles in Western Australia will also phase out the bags from April 4.
“Wednesday marks a big day for us and these communities, as we take this early, but important step in partnership with our customers to help create a greener future for Australia,” the Woolworths spokesman said.
The Woolworths Group, which also includes Dan Murphy's and Cellarmasters liquor stores, made the announcement the bags would disappear in July 2017.
Instead shoppers will be offered reusable bags ranging from 15 cents to $2.
Coles quickly jumped on the bandwagon after the founder of the national anti-plastic bag campaign 'Do Something' called on the major supermarket to help the environment.
Woolworths chief executive said the group currently gives out more than 3.2 billion lightweight plastic bags a year.
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