Editorial: Bag ban reveals the power of the people

Mark Dawson, editor, Wanganui Chronicle

A great victory ... but how to celebrate?

I presume the news on Tuesday that New World supermarkets would be doing away with plastic bags would have sparked an impromptu party among Plastic Bag Free Whanganui members.

A few drinks, perhaps ... in glasses made of real glass, of course. Some nice food - but nothing that comes in shrink-wrapped plastic packaging ... and, naturally, proper metal utensils to eat with.

New World followed Countdown by slightly less than a week in announcing the ban on single-use plastic bags. It had organised a BagVote to see whether customers would pay 10 cents for their disposable shopping bags in a bid to reduce plastic waste and raise money for environmental causes.

The message came back: 'Ban the bags.' And New World listened.

What swung it?

Was it the endangered turtles being found dead, their bellies full of plastic which they had mistaken for seafood?

Was it the announcement last week by researchers that in the not-too-distant future there will be more plastic in the world's oceans than fish?

Was it my imploring post on the company's Facebook page?

Probably they all played a part but, in the end, it was consumer power that made the difference.

One little shopper might not seem like much of a force. Multiply that by millions and you have the power to make big corporations sit up and take notice. Why, they have almost as much clout as Winston Peters.

Countdown estimates its decision will take 350 million plastic bags out of circulation. Now times that by two.

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This week was Get Ready Week, with Whanganui District Council among those aiming to raise awareness about potential disasters and persuading people to be ready for any emergency.

The awareness week ran from Monday through to tomorrow. Unfortunately, the council only sent out its news release about the event on Wednesday afternoon. Perhaps a case of not being ready enough?