Countdown to plastic bag ban

Written on the 19 January 2018

• Workshops to help Western Australians find alternatives to lightweight single-use plastic bags
• Retailers and consumers encouraged to attend 

With Western Australia's ban on lightweight single-use plastic bags just five months away, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is holding workshops to help people change the way they shop and do business.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson is urging the community to take advantage of the workshops - being held across Perth and regional WA - which are aimed at helping plastic bag suppliers, retailers and consumers prepare for and comply with the ban.

From July 1, retailers can no longer supply lightweight single-use plastic bags to their customers.

In the lead-up to the ban, retailers are being encouraged to stop ordering plastic bags which will be part of the ban, think about alternatives to plastic bags and prepare staff to help customers who are unware of or do not support the ban.

Consumers are encouraged to consider carrying reusable shopping bags, look at alternatives for the single-use plastic bags used around their homes and support retailers and staff upholding the law by not supplying single-use bags.

A workshop will be held in Broome Monday 26 Feb at Lotteries House from 6pm.  REGISTER HERE.

For more information, or to register for a workshop, visit the department's website.

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:

"These workshops provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and share information on how the ban will work on a day-to-day basis.

"Banning lightweight single-use plastic bags is a significant win for our environment.

"The Government's plastic bag ban is widely supported by the community and industry. Now you can help us make it work."

Source: Hon Stephen Dawson MLC
Minister for Environment; Disability Services