Plastic bag ban continues with Mitre 10 and Z Energy

Monday, 13 November 2017

More retailers are jumping on board to ban single-use plastic bags.

Z Energy and Mitre 10 have committed to going plastic bag free by mid-2018.

Z service stations currently give out around 2.5 million plastic bags a year, but will stop giving them out by June.

Mitre 10 will also remove all single-use plastic bags and plastic boot liners by the middle of 2018, but does not yet have a set date.

**READ MORE:

* Countdown to ban all single use plastic bags by 2018

* New World matches Countdown to go plastic bag free by 2018

* Countdown to tackle other plastic issues after bags are banned

* Raglan leading the way to ban plastic bags**

Mitre 10 would not say how many plastic bags or boot liners its gives out a year.

Z will also introduce recycling bins at 115 of its service stations for people to separate recycling.

Z sustainability manager Gerri Ward said: “What we’ve found with the existing bins was that a lot of recycling was getting tainted and had to be thrown into landfill'.

Last year, Z also launched the first large-scale compostable cup collection at 70 of its service stations. Many of the country's recycling plants do not have the necessary technology to recycle coffee cups, due to the polyethylene inner lining.

Mitre 10 chief executive Neil Cowie said store owners and customers supported the move to reduce plastic waste.

Reusable bags will be available for $1 at all Mitre 10 stores.

Non-plastic boot liners will also be introduced in the coming months. There are no plans to introduce a charge on plastic bags during the phase out period.

Wellington mayor Justin Lester said it was 'good to see Kiwi companies listening to what New Zealanders want'.

'I hope more retailers will choose to ban the bag.'

Last month, major supermarket chains New World and Countdown announced they would ban plastic carrier bags by the end of next year.