Why it’s time to stop using bin liners
Coles and Woolies made headlines last week when they announced they would be phasing out free plastic shopping bags over the next 12 months in NSW, Victoria and the ACT.
Many critics of this move has suggested it will result in an increased use of bin liners, that will offset any potential environmental benefit from the ban.
A 2012 review of a similar policy in South Australia found 15 per cent of consumers purchased bin liners before the ban, which rose to 80 per cent after, “increasing some scepticism about the broader environmental benefit”.
But environmental experts believe that rethinking the way we deal with rubbish around the house would mean we wouldn’t have to be so reliant on bin-liners.
Jon Dee, managing director of environmental lobby group Do Something and founder of the National Plastic Bag Campaign, said, “I haven’t used a plastic bin liner in 25 years. The simple fact is you don’t actually need to have a plastic bin liner in order to put your rubbish out. Every four to six weeks rinse out the bin and empty it on the grass.
“The first thing you should do is look at what shouldn’t be in your bin. Any food or compostable items should go in the compost, and recyclables should go in the recycling. If you do that you find the bin smell is significantly reduced.”
Mr Dee also said if compost wasn’t readily available, newspaper can do the trick.
Mr Dee said, “There are a lot of free community newspapers. Once you finish reading, spread them out flat on your kitchen bench top, put any food waste in and wrap it up like your grandmother used to, roll it up like fish and chips.”
What are you views on the plastic bag ban? Do you think you’re going to start paying the 15 cent surcharge, or will you invest in reusable bags?