Store Owner of Revive in Griffith Central Judith Phillips weighs in on the plastic bag ban debate, comparing her experience in South Australia compared to here in Griffith.
“We came here from South Australia, and we had the bag ban for a number of years, and let’s be honest, when we go to the super markets, we waste so many bags” Mrs Phillips said.
“[In South Australia] We used to take little fold up bags that you kept with you in your handbag, and it’s so much easier than having cupboards and cupboards full of plastic bags.”
This comes after NSW premier Glady Berejiklian announced the NSW government won’t ban plastic bags.
Berejiklian says that NSW does not need to follow suit with the single-use, light-weight plastic bag ban because 80 per cent of plastic bags are supplied by leading supermarkets Coles and Woolworths, who recently decided to scrap all plastic bag use.
Mrs Phillips said bringing in a bag ban wouldn’t really affect her business as she already uses bags from recyclable plastic.
“We use recyclable plastic in our bags, but I know that paper bags for businesses are very expensive.”
National Retail Association’s CEO Dominique Lamb, is calling on the NSW state government to rethink their decision and back the ban.
“This initiative has been backed nationwide” she said.
“It has the support of retailers, it has the support of state governments, and it has the support of consumers across the country” she said.
“We urge the NSW government to recognise the strain that plastic bags have on the environment and follow suit.”
The Premier has stated the impact from the ban would be inconsequential.
"I don't need to [put a ban in place] because 80 per cent of plastic bags are already banned. I don't need to put a law in for something that's already happening."
