Waipā District Council is partnering with local stores to help phase out single-use produce plastic bags.
From July 1 this year, the government has banned the sale or manufacture of single-use plastic produce bags. To help with the change, Council’s waste minimisation team is working alongside local stores to distribute 4,000 cotton mesh reusable produce bags.
The free bag initiative is funded by the Ministry for the Environment, through its waste minimisation fund. Council’s waste minimisation advisor Sally Fraser said most local supermarkets, superettes, fruit and vegetable stores and farmers’ markets have been quick to jump on board.
“We gave 1,000 reusable produce bags to Waipā stores last year and they were snapped up quickly. So we’re going a bit harder this year to make it easy for people to ditch single-use plastic.”
The cotton mesh bags will be available from July 1 at:
Te Awamutu, Kihikihi and Pirongia
- Countdown
- Four Square Pirongia
- FreshChoice
- Fruit Monster
- Kihikihi Fresh
- PAK ‘n SAVE
- Te Awamutu Produce Market
Cambridge and Leamington
- Countdown
- FreshChoice Cambridge
- FreshChoice Leamington
- Leamington Vege Fresh
- New World
- Vege Fresh
- Cambridge Farmers’ Market
FreshChoice Cambridge owner, Kuldeep Mander was delighted to partner with the Council on the giveaway. She did not think it would be a hard transition for most customers.
“We see most of our customers bringing their own shopping bags in store, so this will be an added help.
Fraser was optimistic Waipā residents will embrace the change, skip single use bags and remember their reusable produce bags.
“Changing doesn’t have to cost anything. People can use bags they already have or embrace ‘nude food’ by putting produce directly into a trolly or basket. Better still, grab one of our bags from a participating store, while stocks last and you’ll be sorted.”
For more information on the government’s decision to ban produce bags and other small single use plastic items visit: www.environment.govt.nz/publications/plastic-products-banned-from-july-2023/.
