Victorian Government's plastic bag trial

Plastic bags - the problem

Victorians use around 1 billion lightweight plastic checkout bags each year.

Plastic bags waste valuable resources and create unnecessary rubbish.

They are a short term convenience with long term impacts.

Many supermarkets, local councils and community groups have already reduced their use of plastic bags, but we can do more.

The Victorian Government's plastic bag trial

The Victorian Government, in partnership with the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA), Coles, Safeway and IGA, is committed to reducing the number of single-use lightweight plastic checkout bags used throughout the state.
 
From 18 August and 14 September 2008 a 10 cent government and industry charge was placed on plastic checkout bags from Coles, Bi-Lo, Safeway and IGA in Warrnambool, Wangaratta and in and around Fountain Gate.

The aim of the trial was to find the best approach for consumers and the environment to reduce plastic bag use.

Results of the trial - plastic bag use dramatically cut

Shoppers in Warrnambool, Wangaratta and the Fountain Gate area dramatically cut plastic bag use by 79% during the Victorian Government's plastic bag trial.
 
Over $35,000 was raised through the trial, with the money going to the following local environmental projects:

• $8,100 to assist rehabilitation of Russell Creek in Warrnambool including tree planting, woody weed removal and improving water quality
• $22,000 for Landcare and water quality projects in the Fountain Gate area beginning at Grasmere Creek flowing to Cardinia Creek and finishing at Akoonah Park, Berwick
• $5,200 to assist rehabilitation near the Ovens River at Garth Park Reserve in Wangaratta including removing woody weeds from the Ovens River. 

The Victorian Government would like to thank these communities for their participation in the trial as well as the trial partners for their commitment and support for reducing the use of plastic bags.

The final reports on the trial are now available on the Environment Protection and Heritage Council website:

• KPMG Final report on the trial of a charge on plastic bags
• Report of the Steering Committee on the trial of a charge on plastic bags - October 2008

Next steps

State and territory environment ministers agreed on 7 November 2008 that Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and the Northern Territory would develop a proposal for a national approach which builds on the voluntary efforts of supermarkets and the actions of various jurisdictions to reduce plastic bag use to be considered at their next meeting in early 2009.

The Australian National Retailers Association welcomed the opportunity to continue to grow their partnership with the Victorian and other state governments and territories to develop a model to further reduce the use of plastic bags. Read the ANRA media release.

Read the Minister for Environment and Climate Change's media releases on the trial

Thursday, April 17, 2008 Victoria to trial plastic bag reduction campaign

Read about Federal initiatives to reduce plastic bag use

How to reduce plastic bags has been the subject of consideration by Australia's Environment Ministers' Council, see www.ephc.gov.au for more information.

•  Life Cycle Analysis (457KB)

Sustainability Victoria recently commissioned a life cycle analysis into a range of shopping bag alternatives. The study revealed that multiple-use bags are better for the environment than single-use bags.

Top | Last updated 04/11/2009