Plastic bag ban — for shoppers
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Which bags are banned?
Shopping bags made from plastic film need to meet these material and reusability requirements:
- 35 microns or more in thickness
- be made from a minimum of 80% recycled content verified by a recognised program or certification
- be durable and big enough to carry 10 kilograms of weight for at least 125 uses verified by a recognised reusability, durability or endurance test.
Compostable plastic shopping bags are allowed if they:
- are wholly made from compostable plastic which has achieved Australian composting certification (either AS5810 or AS4736)
- 35 microns or more in thickness
- are durable and big enough to carry 10 kilograms of weight for at least 125 uses verified by a recognised reusability, durability or endurance test.
Which bags are NOTbanned?
Some plastic shopping bags and other types of plastic bags are not included in the ban. The pictures below are examples of the types of bags which are not included in the ban.
Consider ways to reduce waste, especially by putting food and organic waste in a compost bin. Also consider reusing other types of plastic bags (such as empty bread or fruit and vegetable bags) or newspaper to wrap rubbish before putting it in the bin.
Single-use heavy weight department store plastic bags, however the bags do need to meet material and reusability requirements.
Recommended reusable alternatives
To maximise the environmental benefit of any reusable shopping bag, it’s important that they are reused as many times as possible and recycled at their end-of-life, where possible.
