Plastic ban a boon for Boomerang bags

"It's kind of ironic that the supermarkets preempted a government initiative, it should've been the other way around. But you still see a lot of plastic bags around in small shops, so this will bring a more comprehensive understanding," said Rachel Powell, founder of grassroots environmental group Sydney Inner West Boomerang Bags.

The group is part of the global Boomerang Bags movement and members volunteer their time to sew bags and other items from donated fabric or materials destined for landfill. Since the group started in 2017, Ms Powell said they have made "at least 10,000" bags, which are free, or a gold-coin donation.

"We're all busy in our day jobs but I think we have made a difference. We contribute to conversations and that weekend when Woolworths stopped providing single-use bags we were at Marrickville Metro giving out bags and talking to people, that was quite impactful," she said.

In November last year, the NSW Government passed the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 meaning single-use plastics will be phased out across the state from June.

"This legislation is expected to stop 2.7 billion single-use items from ending up in our natural environment ... over the next 20 years," then environment minister Matt Kean said.

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The ban will not apply to bin liners, human or animal waste bags, produce bags, deli bags and bags used to contain medical items. From November 1, the ban will be extended to apply to single-use plastic straws, coffee stirrers and cutlery.

Suzanne Evans-Booth, owner of Village Wholefoods in Marrickville, said the plastic ban was "about time". Her shop sells dry goods and other household products without packaging - customers bring in their own jars or containers. "It's very early days - but things are moving in the right direction," said Ms Evans-Booth.

Boomerang Bags continues to run sewing workshops in Annandale and Ashfield - but the focus has also moved into mending "to help people get away from fast fashion and sending clothes to landfill," Ms Powell said.

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