The Queensland Government today tabled legislation to ban plastic takeaway straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates and bowls. The legislation will now go to a Parliamentary Committee for review, and should be passed into law in the next few months.
Queensland is the second state, after South Australia, to introduce legislation to ban these products. When passed, it will mean these products will not be sold or provided in Queensland after July 2021. An exemption for those with disabilities having access to products they need, and for products that are certified compostable to the Australian Standard, has been included.
A promised second tranche of legislation will follow, and will include polystyrene products, coffee cups, other plastics and heavyweight plastic bags.
In the last four years Queensland has become a leading state in reducing single plastic and container waste and litter. The plastic bag ban led to a 70% decrease in bag litter, and the container refund scheme reduced container litter by 37% in its first year. These measures were all introduced with the support of every MP in the Queensland Parliament.
Given this unanimous support to reduce plastic waste and litter, the Boomerang Alliance urges all political parties, all business sectors and all communities to back this legislation. It is the next step in changing our plastics habits and reducing the pollution this causes.
Details:
- Bill proposes to ban plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates bowls from sale or provided by businesses
- the ban will come into effect in July 2021
- there are exemptions for those with a disability so they can access products they need
- compostable products certified to the Australian standard are exempted
- other bans on polystyrene, coffee cups, other plastics and heavyweight plastic bags will follow after further consultation
- A recent public consultation on banning single use plastics received over 19,000 submissions with 94% supporting a ban on these products
- There was unanimous support in the QLD Parliament for a plastic bag ban and container refund scheme, which led to significant decreases in plastic litter and waste
- We urge every political party and business to back this legislation and continue to make a difference for the Queensland environment and our wildlife
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