The plastic bag debate

Fifty years ago, plastic shopping bags were a rarity. Now, they’re everywhere. While they’re not the biggest environmental problem we face, Consumer believes reducing their use is easy and we support measures to do this. Cutting back means we create less waste, and reduce the economic and environmental costs of disposal.

Public pressure has already led some retailers to start charging for bags. In April 2009, The Warehouse introduced a 10-cent charge for its plastic bags. The company says profits will be donated to community groups.

From 3 August, shoppers at Foodstuffs supermarkets (New World and Four Square stores nationwide and Pak’n Save stores in the South Island) will have to pay 5 cents for a bag – no word yet on how profits will be spent.

Take your own bags and you can avoid paying extra. If you’re wondering how to replace all those free plastic bags you’ve got used to, www.getreal.org.nz has suggestions. The site is run by a group of waste-free enthusiasts and includes instruction on how to make a bin liner out of newspapers. For the more radical, Get Real suggests putting your rubbish straight in your bin without a bin liner.

The degradable alternative

Degradable plastic bags are sometimes touted as an alternative to conventional plastic. They’re designed to break down when exposed to certain heat and light conditions.

Jo Knight from the Zero Waste Trust says the problem is these bags don’t break down properly in landfill conditions. Some biodegradable bags made from corn starch or plant-based cellulose can be composted, says Jo, and these may be an option for food waste - but only if they’re composted along with the food waste.