New laws banning the supply of lightweight plastic shopping bags with handles will come into effect across New South Wales on June 1.
The NSW ban applies to all lightweight shopping bags with handles which are 35 microns or less in thickness, including biodegradable, compostable and degradable bags.
The NSW ban does not apply to thicker reusable plastic bags, produce bags, waste bags or essential product packaging.
The National Retail Association (NRA) will visit 650 retail precincts and centres in NSW this year, as well as provide a toll free hotline, online sessions and workshops to advise businesses on the change.
NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said retailers would appreciate national alignment of state-based bans so that they could invest in solutions with certainty.
“One of the biggest challenges is that there are five state-based plastic bans just in the last 12 months, and they all have different rules," she confirmed.
“Even small businesses have an online presence and it’s very hard for them to keep track of so many bans, especially when they each provide different advice.
“We are working with governments at all levels to encourage states and territories to work together so we can accelerate environmental outcomes.”
Lamb said most retailers have embraced the change to plastic bag usage.
“Retailers and their suppliers are highly supportive of environmental initiatives, with many already phasing out single-use plastics, measuring their carbon footprint and committing to strong packaging targets.
“We have engaged over 10,000 retailers over the past three months, from Tweed to Dubbo, from Bankstown to Surry Hills, and the response has been very positive.
“We have visited more than 280 shopping precincts across NSW, with 200 of these in Greater Sydney including Parramatta, Burwood, Auburn, Carlingford and Wentworthville, providing factsheets to retailers.
“We have also engaged suppliers and over 100 community, religious, sporting and cultural peak bodies, which together represent over 20,000 organisations, to help everyone prepare and transition.”