And while environmental groups and many shoppers are applauding the move, implementing the change has been tense at times.
A man enraged that he was not being provided a free plastic bag apparently placed his hands around the throat of a Woolworths employee, according to The West Australian.
The Australian states Queensland and Western Australia, and retail chains Coles and Big W are placing new restrictions on these bags as of July 1. On June 20, Woolworths said it had removed single-use plastic bags from its stores nationwide. The states of Tasmania and South Australia have previously banned this type of plastic bag.
That means that as it stands now, "major retailers in all but two Australian states will be fined if they supply single-use plastic bags," as Reuters reported.
The reported abuse at market checkouts prompted the SDA, a union representing retail workers, to launch a campaign called "Don't Bag Retail Staff."
