Background info

Why plastic bags, why now?

Because it doesn't matter which way you look at it burying almost a billion plastic bags in NZ landfills every year and having the rest end up in bushes and trees, in rivers and streams or ingested by wildlife is a BIG problem. Plastic bags are a waste of precious resources, alternatives exist.

We can't leave it up to voluntary measures or the supermarkets to make a move. The Packaging Accord of 2004, which comes to an end this year set a token 20% reduction over 5 years. 20%? Get Real! Ireland reduced plastic bag usage by 90% in 3 months after they started charging for them. Even The Warehouse is doing it. When asked why they decided to rid their stores of plastic bags Bunnings General Manager Brad Cranston said it was easy, why not?

If Progressive and Food Stuffs supermarkets donated just 10 cents from 20% of their plastic bags this could generate $400,000 every week to go towards litter and waste reduction programs.

Barry Helberg from the New Zealand Retailers association says that "plastic bags only comprise 0.2% of the waste stream” and that “there are far more environmental issues facing NZ than plastic bags". Of course there are so let's get this one out of the way so we can start looking inside the bag.

With your support we will present our case to Progressive and Foodstuff and ask them in no uncertain terms to stop giving away plastic bags and to introduce a levy.

Sophie Ward

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Hi. My name is Angus Ho and I'm a plastic bag campaigner for Wanaka Wastebusters and Kiwi Plastic Bag Concern.

Let's stop the two big supermarket chains giving away free plastic bags in New Zealand. Enter your name and your reasons why below, and let's get some action.

The Warehouse has just started charging for their bags. Borders book stores charge for their bags. A levy is easy and very effective.

Act now!

Angus Ho