The Victorian Government has delivered on its promise to ban lightweight plastic shopping bags to reduce plastic pollution and help protect the environment.

The Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, said from today, all lightweight plastic shopping bags are banned from local retailers including supermarkets, fashion boutiques, fast food outlets, convenience stores, and service stations and more.

The ban includes all lightweight plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less and includes bags made from degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastic.

The Government has listened to the community and the overwhelming number of responses during community consultation indicated people are concerned by the impacts of plastic on our environment and in support for a ban on lightweight plastic shopping bags.

Information about the bag ban has been made available for retailers, suppliers, local councils and community through media, websites, hotline services and visits to retail precincts across Victoria.

Ms Addison said the Government is taking action to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on the environment.

“Plastic pollution is an urgent environmental problem because it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces over time, becoming increasingly difficult to manage,” Ms Addison said.

“Everyone in Ballarat can do their bit to help reduce the impact of plastic pollution on our local environment by remembering to take reusable bags when shopping. It’s a small but important step in the right direction,” she said.

There is growing evidence of the damage caused to the environment by plastic bags. They can end up in our waterways, lakes and oceans posing a significant hazard to marine life and contaminating our recycling systems.

For more information on the banning of lightweight plastic shopping bags visit: https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/sustainability/plastic-pollution