State of Play: Single-Use Plastics Ban

 

FIRST TRANCHE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS
PROPOSED SECOND TRANCHE (expected 2022-24)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
(legislation passed in September 2020 with ban introduced on 1 March 2021)

  • plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery

  • compostable plastic items are included in the ban (for these listed products)
  • expanded polystyrene (eps) cup, bowl, plate and container, listed oxo-degradable products (2022)

  • (after further investigation) takeaway coffee cups, (thick) plastic bags and other food service items

QUEENSLAND
(legislation passed in March 2021 with ban introduced 1 September 2021)

  • plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, eps cups and containers, oxo-degradable products

  • compostable plastics and other packaging items certified to the Australian standards (AS 4736/AS 5810) are allowed/exempt from the ban
  • coffee cups/lids, other plastic items and heavyweight plastic bags (after further analysis) - expected in 2022

  • Plastic Pollution Reduction Strategy allows for further additions in future

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY (legislation was passed in March 2021 with ban introduced on 1 July 2021)

  • plastic cutlery, stirrers, expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers

  • compostable plastic items are included in the ban (for these listed products)
  • plastic fruit/vegetable produce bags, oxo-degradable products, plastic straws (expected in 2022)

  • (in longer term) coffee cups and lids, plastic dinnerware, heavyweight plastics bags and cotton ear buds

  • enabling legislation allows for further additions in future

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (fast-tracked legislation being drafted and expected in 2021)

  • plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates and bowls, expanded polystyrene food containers, heavyweight plastic bags, helium balloon releases
  • plastic fruit/vegetable produce bags, microbeads, expanded polystyrene packaging, coffee cups/lids, cotton buds with plastic shafts, oxo-degradable products (expected 2022)

  • Plan for Plastics allows for further additions in future

VICTORIA (ban to take effect in Feb 2023 after consultation)

  • balloon release is banned from 1 Jul 2021

  • single-use plastic straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, polystyrene food and drink containers, and plastic cotton bud sticks are banned

  • government agencies to ban by Feb 2022
  • awaiting further information

  • government plastics planning allows for further additions in future

NEW SOUTH WALES (NSW Plastic Plan legislation expected in 2021 with specified bans)

  • lightweight shopping bags banned (6 months after legislation passed)

  • plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, expanded polystyrene food service items, cotton buds with plastic sticks, microbeads in personal care and cosmetics (12 months after legislation passed)
  • plastic bowls and plates, cups, oxo-degradable plastics, fruit stickers, heavyweight plastic bags and produce bags (to be reviewed in 3 years)
  • EPR scheme for cigarette butts

TASMANIA (future intentions unknown)

  • no bans on identified single use plastics. At recent election in May 2021 State Government committed to a Plastic Plan with legislation to ban yet unidentified plastic items

  • (Hobart City Council has introduced a ban on certain items that includes compostable plastics that meet Australian, US or EU standards)
 

NORTHERN TERRITORY (future intentions unknown)

  • no bans on identified single-use plastics. The Territory Government is developing a new Waste Strategy that will include a plan for plastics

  • Darwin City Council banned disposable coffee cups, lids, straws, cutlery, plates, bowls and takeaway containers from use on council land in 2019. This includes the release of helium balloons
 

 

EUROPE VS AUSTRALIA

 

CURRENT POLICY FUTURE POLICY

EUROPEAN UNION

  • ban on single use plastic cotton buds, straws, plates, cutlery, stirrers, balloon sticks, oxo-degradable plastics, eps food/beverage containers and cups by 2021
  • compostable items allowed but not considered a solution
  • EPR schemes covering cost of collection, transport, treatment, clean up and education for food containers, packets, wrappers, cups and containers up to 3 litres, plastic bags and fishing gear by 2024

  • EPR scheme for cost of clean-up, education and data gathering for balloons and wet wipes and tobacco products by 2023

  • all beverage containers to have tethered caps (2024) 25% recycled content-PET (2025) 30% all types (2030) 90% collected by 2029

COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT (from National Plastics Plan 2021 and intended to complement state actions)

  • phase out polystyrene packaging, PVC labels and non-certified compostable packaging in 2022

  • support an international marine plastic agreement to curb global plastic pollution

  • establish government taskforce to examine options to reduce cigarette butt litter

  • establish consistent kerbside collection services by councils
  • require new washing machines to have filters to remove microplastics (by 2030)

 

 

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