Vinnies Queensland stores at Jimboomba and Browns Plains will no longer offer single use plastic bags, months ahead of the state government deadline.
Vinnies will stop using the plastic bags from Sunday, December 31 – six months before the ban on their use comes into effect on July 1.
Vinnies offers its customers the chance to help the environment and give back to the community by buying a reusable enviro-bag for $1.
Money from their sale will go towards Vinnies Queensland’s community programs which include housing, homelessness support, mental health, emergency relief and material goods for families and individuals in need.
Vinnies Queensland chief executive officer Peter Maher said many Vinnies op-shops had already stopped providing single use plastic bags.
“Many of our 146 shops around Queensland are already plastic bag free and offer alternatives such as enviro-bags,” he said.
“Shoppers and volunteers have been very supportive of us doing our bit to reduce the number of plastic bags polluting our waterways or ending up in landfill.
“Vinnies shops already prevent thousands of tonnes of clothing and household items from going to landfill, and from December 31 we will be completely plastic bag free.”
The ban was passed in Queensland Parliament in September.
The ban applies to lightweight single use plastic shopping bags only, other plastic bags such as nappy bags, garbage bin bags and liners and heavier shopping bags are not included.
