Here are the changes as of 1 July:
- The manufacture, sale or distribution of single-use plastic produce bags, plates, bowls, and cutlery will be banned.
- Single-use plastic straws will be restricted. Some businesses or organisations will still be able to provide them to disabled people and those with health needs.
- A transition to compostable plastic produce labels by 2025 will begin.
More info at the Ministry for the Environment: https://environment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/campaigns/bans-on-single-use-and-hard-to-recycle-plastic-items/
The supermarket I work at took away the produce bags a couple of weeks ago and so many people were utterly unprepared for it. Last week the bags had returned.
Not having a replacement option available there seems very foolish, paper bags are still a thing.
Uh oh, I better let my partner know, she likes keeping those bags because we use them as bin liners