The statewide plastic bag ban applies to small retailers and service stations, but also individuals including those operating at markets who face fines of $9900 per offence.
For one Kyabram business, that means potentially sending 70,000 bags that don't meet the new regulation to landfill.
It has become quite a headache for Kyabram's Martin Polis, who has owned Ky Discounts and Tobacco on Allan St for 27 years.
While he has got no problem with the desire to go green, he says the authorities that were meant to educate businesses and help to transition stores never came knocking.
“We haven’t received much communication from the authorities and I don’t think we are prepared properly,” he said.
“Obviously we want to use the bags up that we have already, but we can't.
“It looks like I'll have bin bags at home sorted out until the end of time."
The unusable bags sitting in the back of the store are worth more than $1500 and Mr Polis said the financial burden of purchasing new, heavier weight bags would put even more pressure on the small business.
“I used to pay $45 for a box of 2000 bags, and now I pay $210 for 2500,” he said.
“Unfortunately in a store like mine where the margins are already low, i'll have to pass that on to the customer — otherwise we won't be profitable."
The State Government has handed out some concessions for businesses that purchased single-use plastic bags as far as March 2020.
That includes Bakers Delight, who have permission to use the plastics they bulk-ordered before the legislation passed in state parliament.
But Kyabram's Bakers Delight is well ahead of the curve.
Owners Liza and Vince phased out plastic at their Bakers Delight at the same time as the supermarkets did last year.
“When the supermarkets brought in their ban last year we went along with them,” Vince said.
“We're not sending plastic to landfill and that is definitely a good thing.
“Customer reaction was a little bit of an adjustment but once people got used to it it was all okay."
And they have come up with a genius solution for recyclable bags.
“We get a lot of promotional aprons that we might use for the two-week promotion period and then they just go out the back,” Vince said.
“Liza has started sewing them into reusable bags, which people can purchase for $4.”
According to government surveys, the majority of Victorians — 96 per cent — support the ban.
The Retail Association is urging people to remember their reusable bags the next time the pop down to the shops.
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