Single-use plastic bags may soon be outlawed by the NSW government following discussions of a new plastics policy.
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Major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths already made moves to stop providing customers with free soft plastic bags last year, but some in the Wagga community hopes that making the ban a law will push consumers in the right direction.
Member for Wagga Joe McGirr said it was about time NSW caught up to other states.
"Ultimately, I think a plastic bag ban needs to happen," he said.
"The reasons for that are quite clear. The damage to our environment from littered plastic bags is well documented and, of course, our councils and communities across NSW are facing real challenges with waste disposal.
"We do need to look at taking steps towards a transition that won't negatively impact businesses, but right now we're the only state that hasn't banned single-use plastic bags and the time has come, I think, to follow suit."
Boomerang Bags volunteer Jan Batt said their reusable totes were already a hit with Wagga shoppers.
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"Just this morning we gave 20 of [the bags] to FoodWorks to hand out, they're totally free," she said.
"We've made over 900 so far, close to hitting 1000, so there is traction for it and making it a law to not use plastic may give people the nudge they need to commit to solid, reusable alternatives."
The movement towards reusable bags is topical in Wagga with the council's 'Plastic Free July' initiative kicking off this week.
"Plastic pollution has a detrimental effect on our environment, commonly found littered in our parks, reserves, stormwater infrastructure and waterways," the council's environmental education officer Sam Pascall said.
"Soft plastics like plastic bags are widely used, however cannot be recycled through kerbside waste collection services.
"Only 10 per cent of Australians take their bags to be recycled, leaving a large number of plastic bags either littered in our environment or taking space in our landfill."
Mrs Pascall reiterated the role each Wagga resident could play in promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.
"Plastic Free July is all about assessing how much plastic is used in our everyday lives and finding alternatives," she said.
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