Press Release

ISSUED BY AFFORDABLE AUCKLAND

Plastic Bag Ban Proposed

Auckland Council’s Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee today unanimously moved to “Support making Auckland plastic bag free.” Affordable Auckland’s Stephen Berry is totally opposed to the proposal, labelling it “enviro-fascism.”

The motion follows the presentation of a petition by Steph Borelle in July 2014 to ban single-use plastic bags, supported by Councillor Cathy Casey and the Grey Lynn 2030 Transition Community.

Mr Berry says, “The only thing that Council should ban is Cathy Casey’s poisonous meddling in other people’s business..”

“Big Business has already jumped on the environmental bandwagon voluntarily, with supermarkets selling eco-bags or charging for plastic bags. Bunnings Warehouse chose to remove all plastic bags from its stores seven years ago. Customers should be free to make their own decisions about businesses policies and vote with their dollars.”

Stephen Berry also doubts the practicality of a ban on single-use plastic bags. “Many Aucklanders choose to use their plastic shopping bags as rubbish bags making them dual-use. Does Casey propose Council staff go through your waste on rubbish day to find empty plastic bags?”

“Council needs to stick to its core role; the provision of naturally monopolistic services which are essential to the functioning of the city. Dictating what you use to carry home your shopping definitely does not fall into that category.”

Stephen was the Affordable Auckland candidate for Mayor in 2013.

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