Help reduce the use of plastic bags!
Count the number of plastic bags you currently use on a weekly basis and see how many of these you can refuse, reduce, reuse or recycle. Fill out the survey sheet at the beginning of the month and then again at the end. You can use this information to determine whether you have successfully met the plastic bag challenge.
Tips to help:
Refuse (avoid)
- If you're only buying a couple of items, consider carrying them
- When shopping, take alternatives to plastic bags with you such as calico bags, string bags, baskets or boxes. Keep them in the car so they're handy.
Reduce
- Decline heavy, non-recyclable plastic bags (LDPE) offered by retailers.
- If you have no other option than to accept plastic bags at the checkout, make sure at least eight items are in each bag - depending of course on the weight of the items.
- Avoid putting items with carry handles into bags (dog food, milk containers, nappies, etc)
- Avoid double-bagging
Recycle
- Find a local supermarket, which offers recycling facilities for plastic supermarket bags, such as Coles or Woolworths. Take your old plastic supermarket bags back for recycling the next time you go shopping. If you can't find the recycling bin, suggest to the store manager that it's put in a more prominent place. If you can't find the recycling bin, or the store doesn't have recycling facilities, ask the store manager about their recycling policy.
- Be careful to check which plastic bags are accepted at the recycling bins - it is only possible to recycle HDPE supermarket plastic bags, not the heavier bags used by other retailers (LDPE).
- Make sure your bags are clean and empty - don't forget to take the docket or receipt out
Reuse
- There are many ways to reuse plastic bags at home including: freezing food; packing children's school lunches; storage of clothing and other household items; to clean up after your dog when out walking; to name just a few.
In order to change the way we use plastic bags we need to:
- remember to take alternate bags shopping;
- remember to take them out of the car; and
- remember to take the bags you do use back for recycling
Print off a copy of our shopping list to help you remember what you need to buy and how best to manage plastic bags.
Further information on what you can do to reduce the impact of plastic bags can be obtained from www.cleanup.com.au
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