“Victoria, NSW, and Tasmania to see removal of 15c recyclable plastic bags by Woolworths”

Woolworths has begun phasing out its 15c grocery bags from stores in three states in an effort to reduce plastic waste.

Stocks of reusable plastic bags in stores in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania will begin to run out from Monday.

The supermarket giant has already scrapped the bags in ACT, NT, SA, WA and Queensland, but no stores will be selling them in Australia by June.

Woolworths said in a statement that customers in the United States without the 15c bags had responded well to the change.

“Having reusable bags on hand has become second nature to many customers, and so far we have seen our customers embrace this change with their usual eagerness to do good for the environment,” the statement said.

The company said the move “will remove more than 1,800 tons of plastic from circulation statewide each year.”

“The impending change in the three states will complete Woolworths’ nationwide transition to remove its 15-cent plastic bags from sale in all stores,” it said.

The bags are made from 80 percent recycled plastic and can be purchased by customers who forget to bring their own bag to the store.

Woolworths said it was helping customers prepare for the impending change by providing “advance notice and email reminders, as well as in-store signage.”

Last year, the company removed plastic disposable cutlery, cups, bowls and plates from its national range.

Competitor Coles still offers its ‘Better Bags’, which also consist of 80 percent recycled material.

“Through the Soft Plastics Taskforce, Coles is working with other major supermarkets to support the recycling of soft plastics and reduce unnecessary in-store plastics,” a Coles spokesperson said. 9News.

‘We offer our customers 100 percent recycled paper bags that are made in Australia and can be recycled’.

Woolworths said the move “removes more than 1,800 tonnes of plastic from circulation across the state every year”