While use of plastic supermarket bags is a highly emotive issue, the effect on the municipal waste stream is minimal, probably making up less than a quarter of one per cent (0.025%).
John Webber, executive director of the Packaging Council of New Zealand says the major debate over plastic bags currently raging in Australia has now moved to New Zealand, with calls for them to be replaced with other reusable type bags or a charge put on their use.
The Warehouse in New Zealand is also urging customers to choose to carry their purchases instead of taking them out in bags.
Webber says, however, that the real issue is more one of litter than that of a waste of natural resources, because 80 per cent or more plastic bags are reused, some many times over.
ìThey are certainly not a single use product. I did an informal survey recently and found that only one person in five found no secondary use for them.î
He says the real problem is consumerism ìand we donít see calls to reduce that.
ìThe details of the issue are being well covered by Plastics New Zealand but it is concerning that such a small portion of the waste stream can engender such outcomes with so many more serious issues to address. However we need to recognise the political implications and respond accordingly.î
