The Assembly also decided that retailers will not have to charge fees, which can go up to 50 cents per transaction, for bags made of cloth or woven canvas plastic or other machine-washable materials, called "alternative bags." The fees will only apply to paper bags for now, though that could someday be extended to biodegradable plastic bags, Constant said.</s>Coles will charge customers for plastic bags from today after a series of embarrassing backflips over the controversial policy.

Shoppers who don't bring their own bags will be charged 15 cents for heavy duty 'Better Bags' as of Thursday.

The supermarket giant had been handing out re-usable bags for free to give customers time to 'adjust' after an angry backlash at the initial ban.

'Coles has always maintained that complimentary bags were an interim measure to help customers make the transition to reusable bags,' a Coles spokesman said.

'If customers forget to bring their own bags, Coles has a range of options available, including the 15c Better Bag, which is thicker and more durable than single use plastic bags and can be used multiple times.

'When customers have finished with the Better Bag, it can be recycled through the REDcycle bins available at all Coles supermarkets.'

Coles removed singe-use bags from its stores on July 1, before it crumbled to customer fury and announced it would give bags away for free 'indefinitely'.

That announcement sparked backlash from environmental groups and the supermarket backflipped on its backflip and said the free bag period would end at midnight on August 29.

HOW COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE WAGING WAR AGAINST PLASTIC BAGS Dozens of countries across the world have waged war against plastic bags, implementing a variety of policies to help protect the environment. From a total ban to imposing taxes, we take a look at some of the schemes around the globe. Strict laws are in force across many African countries, with South Africa the first to introduce a levy in 2004. But, in 2017, Kenya announced one of the world's toughest policies on carrier bags, implementing a countrywide ban. Those found to be involved in creating or importing plastic bags can face up to four years in prison or fines equivalent to around £30,000. Bangladesh was the first country in the world to ban the production and use of plastic bags in 2002 after they were found to be choking drainage systems and causing flooding. Despite the ban, plastic bags continue to be a problem for the country's sewerage systems. Carrier bags are banned in nearly all of Australia's states, with the phase-out implemented at state or territory level rather than nationally. The Tasmanian town of Coles Bay became the first place in the country to ban plastic bags in 2003, while the first state-wide ban was introduced in South Australia in 2009. Bans came into force in Queensland and Western Australia in July this year, while Victoria is set to introduce the policy in the coming months. In New South Wales – where a total ban is not in place – major supermarkets have removed single-use plastic bags in stores and charge for reusable bags. Denmark was the first European country to introduce a tax on plastic bags in 1993. This encouraged stores to charge for bags and push the use of reusable bags. Figures in 2014 showed Denmark had the lowest plastic bag use in Europe, at four bags per person per year. There is no plastic bag fee or ban across the United States as a whole. However, California became the first to introduce a statewide ban for all wholesale and retail businesses in 2014. More than 200 counties have either imposed a fee or banned bags outright. New York could soon join California with a state-wide ban after a Bill was announced by governor Andrew Cuomo earlier this year.</s>After banning single-use plastic bags last month, then deciding to give away thicker, "reusable" bags indefinitely, Coles will today begin charging customers for the 15¢ bags.

Coles and rival supermarket Woolworths removed single-use plastic bags from their checkouts around the country in June and July.

Both supermarkets said they would offer their thicker 15¢ bags free to customers for a limited time, as shoppers got used to bringing their own bag.

However, at the start of August, Coles said it would offer the resuable bags indefinitely.

“When Coles phased out single-use plastic bags on 1 July ... some customers told us they needed more time to make the transition to reusable bags," a Coles spokeswoman said at the time.</s>SINGAPORE - Plastic bags will not be given out for free on Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) premises from Oct 1, a move that could save nearly 10 million plastic bags a year.

As part of the university's five-year growth plan, which has a strong focus on environmental consciousness, NTU president Subra Suresh announced the ban on issuing plastic bags at campus events, as well as at retail and food outlets, on Monday (August 27).

An NTU spokesman later told The Straits Times that to encourage people to bring their own shopping bags, free plastic bags will be given out only upon request from Sept 3.

From Oct 1, the retailers on campus, including Prime and Giant, will charge $0.20 per bag.

"The proceeds from the sale of these bags will go towards NTU's student assistance funding. This is NTU walking the talk on sustainability," said the spokesman.

"Beyond sustainability research and smart buildings, this is the behavioural aspect of sustainability that can involve the entire community, which is just as important as advancements in technology."

Based on an average of 1.6 plastic bags per household per day, and with NTU's 17,000-strong community, it is looking at a saving of almost 10 million bags per year, added the spokesman.

According to a recent study commissioned by the Singapore Environment Council, shoppers in Singapore take 820 million plastic bags from supermarkets every year. The council estimated that 820 million bags would cover an area 126 times the size of Gardens by the Bay.

Undergraduate Belinda Yeow, 22, praised the initiative, saying that charging for plastic bags would discourage their use.

Another undergraduate Abigail Chia, 22, said: "It would be a good example for Singapore in general."</s>If you're already fed up of paying 15c for reusable bags at the supermarket, this may well infuriate you.

Fashion designers are urging customer to shop in style and pay more than $2,000 for stylish plastic bags.

Burberry, Michael Kors and Celine are just some of the high-end labels to design bags made of thick plastic, which are similar to a standard reusable supermarket bag, but cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars more.

Designers are filling a gap in the market after angry customers complained, accusing Coles and Woolworths of profiteering by forcing shoppers to pay 15c for reusable plastic bags once provided for free without limits.

Burberry's 'Medium Plastic Shopper with Vintage Check Pouch', a transparent shopping bag with a leather-wrapped chain handle and a cotton pouch inside, is sold for an astounding $2050.

The Celine 'see-through' shopping bag, again, which looks exactly like a transparent shopping bag only more sturdy and with the 'Celine Paris' logo printed on, is valued at $757.

The Michael Kors Clear Tote is not as expensive as other designer shopper bags, but is still an astonishing $98.

Woolworths and Coles phased out single-use plastic bags at the beginning of July.</s>COLES has resumed charging customers for its 15-cent reusable bags from today.

In response to bans on single-use plastic bags in some states and territories, both major supermarkets opted to remove them from their entire store networks - Woolworths on June 22 and Coles on July 1.

The move sparked customer complaints, forcing first Woolworths and then Coles to waive the fee on their 15-cent bags for a period to help customers "adjust" to the change.

Coles then extended its bag giveaway past Woolworths before backflipping entirely on the bag ban by announcing it would give the heavier bags away for free "indefinitely".

That sparked outrage from environmental groups, forcing the supermarket to backflip on its backflip, pulling back the free giveaway period until August 29.

"Coles has always maintained that complimentary bags were an interim measure to help customers make the transition to reusable bags," a spokesman said.

"If customers forget to bring their own bags Coles has a range of options available including the 15-cent 'Better Bag' which is thicker and more durable than single-use plastic bags and can be used multiple times."

Environmental group Boomerang Alliance welcomed the end of the free bag giveaway.

"But how many branded plastic bags have already infected the environment as a result of this controversial promotion?" the group wrote on Twitter. "And will they remain true to their word this time?"

Earlier this month, Woolworths boss Brad Banducci admitted the supermarket had underestimated the negative reaction to the plastic bag ban and would have done things differently "a second time around".

Announcing its full-year financial results, Woolworths said its sales had been drastically hurt in the first seven weeks of the new year due to the bag ban and Coles Little Shop promotion.

Wesfarmers chief financial officer Anthony Gianotti also conceded that the plastic bag ban had hurt sales, but did not quantify the effect.

The conglomerate noted, however, that Coles' sales in the first quarter had improved, "driven by a successful Little Shop campaign, other promotional initiatives implemented during the quarter, and improved store execution".

Coles faced criticism for its popular toy giveaway, which some said conflicted with the retailer's stated aim of reducing plastic waste.

Undeterred, Coles announced last week it was extending the promotion, originally set to end on August 28, "for another few weeks, until stocks last".

Wesfarmers is currently in the process of spinning off Coles into a separate listed entity, with the demerger expected to be completed by November.

The supermarket faced another public relations disaster two weekends ago when what it described as "some minor IT problems" affecting cash registers forced a number of stores to shut their doors for around three hours.</s>I was happy to read that Kroger is phasing out plastic bags. I’ve been trying to avoid them for years myself, and it’s good that some of the leaders in the grocery business are finally taking notice of the horrible waste and environmental impact these bags represent.

Next up should be the dry-cleaning industry. My cleaner on Mercer Island is now offering reusable garment bags as an alternative to the wasteful — and largely unnecessary — plastic bags that most cleaners use.</s>All 2,800 stores will go paper or reusable bag only... eventually.

After several European nations took steps to reduce plastic bag usage, the number of bags found in the ocean dropped dramatically. And while we may be waiting for some time to see action on the federal level here in the US, there are encouraging signs that business is beginning to get serious about single use plastics.

The latest example of this trend is an announcement from Kroger—one of the largest grocery retail chains in the world—that it will be phasing out single use plastic bags from every single one of its 2,800 stores. Once the transition is complete, customers will have to choose either paper or bring their own reusable bags.

Obviously, the sheer scale of Kroger's and its subsidiaries' reach makes this announcement worth celebrating. Not only will it directly result in fewer bags entering the environment and our oceans, but it will also make local, regional and eventually nationwide measures to reduce plastic pollution considerably more politically feasible.

That said, there is a pretty major caveat: Kroger is setting 2025 as the final end date for plastic bags in its stores. So they're not exactly rushing this one through. Still, as with any such announcement, there will obviously be progress made before that final deadline. Kroger-owned and Seattle-based QFC outlets will apparently be the first brand under the umbrella to go entirely plastic bag free, and that should be achieved by the end of next year.

I'm personally hoping that our local Harris Teeter stores (also Kroger-owned) won't be far behind, because I've lost track of how many of their bags I've found hanging in trees or clogging up our local creeks.</s>FASHION designers are cashing in on the chaos at the cash register and urging shoppers to glam up their groceries with stylish plastic bags — priced at up to $2050.

Luxury labels may have seen a gap in the market after retail ­giants Coles and Woolworths bungled their bans on single-use plastic bags, then flip-flopped on whether to charge 15c for their ­reusable replacements.

Branded bags made of thick plastic have hit the market. They are much the same as standard reusable supermarket bags — only fancier. And more expensive.

MORE: Trolleys dumped across suburbs due to plastic bag ban

On Instagram yesterday, Scanlan Theodore plugged its clear vinyl “Deborah Barnet Grocery Bag”, available in charcoal or blue, for $350 — more than the $237 average most households spend on food every week.

Reaction on social media was mixed. “I’d make a joke but this is just … stupid,” one user wrote.

Another said: “This is ridiculous and I’d give my left t. to have it.”

Burberry has also jumped on the bag-wagon, offering a “Medium Plastic Shopper with Vintage Check Pouch” for a jaw-dropping $2050.

Michael Kors and Celine were other labels selling high-priced plastic bags.

Sydney University marketing expert Dr Rohan Miller said the new trend promoted an unhealthy reliance on plastic.

“There’s no reason we can’t use different materials,” he said.</s>WELLINGTON, New Zealand, August 11, 2018 (ENS) – New Zealand will phase out single-use plastic shopping bags over the next year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced Friday.

“We’re phasing-out single-use plastic bags so we can better look after our environment and safeguard New Zealand’s clean, green reputation,” said Prime Minister Ardern.

“We’re listening to New Zealanders who want us to take action on this problem. This year 65,000 Kiwis signed a petition calling for an outright ban. It’s also the biggest single subject school children write to me about,” she said.

“Every year in New Zealand we use hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bags – a mountain of bags, many of which end up polluting our precious coastal and marine environments and cause serious harm to all kinds of marine life,” said the Prime Minister, “and all of this when there are viable alternatives for consumers and business.”

People have until Friday, September 14 to share their views on the new policy. The government wants to know what the public thinks is the best date for the phase-out to be completed, what bags should be included, any retailers that should be exempted, and how best to help people with the transition.

“We are a Government determined to face up to New Zealand’s environmental challenges. Just like climate change, we’re taking meaningful steps to reduce plastics pollution so we don’t pass this problem to future generations,” said Prime Minister Ardern.

“We need to be far smarter in the way we manage waste and this is a good start,” she said.

The seas around New Zealand are the riskiest in the world for seabirds eating plastic rubbish, the nonprofit organization Forest & Bird has warned Members of Parliament’s Environment Committee.

Forest & Bird spokesperson Karen Baird says, “Rubbish that ends up in our seas has a far worse effect on seabird species than anywhere else in the world.”

“Even though we don’t have the most plastic pollution, we are unique in the world in having so many seabirds species in New Zealand. We also have the most threatened seabird species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world,” she said.

New Zealand’s seabirds are not the only animals at risk from eating plastic pollution. Baird says, “One out of every three turtles recovered in New Zealand has died or is sick from eating plastic.”

Associate Environment Minister Sage says many countries and major cities around the world have successfully taken action on plastic pollution in recent years and expressed confidence that New Zealanders would also embrace the change.

“Public calls for action have encouraged a significant number of retailers, including supermarkets, to move on single-use plastic bags. We want to support their efforts by ensuring the retail industry moves together in a fair and effective way,” said Sage.

“The government will work alongside supermarkets and other retailers to help people make the change to reusable bags and we want to hear from New Zealanders as to how we can best do this,” she said.

“New Zealanders are proud of our country’s clean, green reputation and we want to help ensure we live up to it. Phasing out single-use plastic bags helps do that,” said Sage. “We’re proposing a six month phase-out period and we’re confident this is a change we can make together.”
Anchorage, Alaska, passes a strict ban on plastic shopping bags, and imposes a fee on the use of store-issued paper bags. The law goes into effect on March 1, 2019.