Single use plastic on the way out

After many years of community demands to reduce plastic pollution, 2021 promises to be the year that our state and territory governments start to make a difference.  Five jurisdictions - South Australia, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Victoria have either passed or have promised legislation to reduce takeaway single-use plastics.  We applaud them.

The other jurisdictions, New South Wales, Tasmania and the Northern Territory are considering their options but lagging behind. They need to catch up quick and we are campaigning to get them moving.  

Below is our status report on each active state and territory.

FIRST TRANCHE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS (2021)
 PROPOSED SECOND TRANCHE (expected 2022-24)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Legislation passed 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 no earlier than 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 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 addition in future
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Legislation being drafted and expected to be tabled by 2023
  • Plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, eps food containers, heavyweight plastic bags, helium balloon releases (by 2023)

  • Currently reviewing position on compostable plastics
  • Plastic fruit/vegetable produce bags, microbeads, eps packaging, cotton buds with plastic shafts, oxo-degradable products (expected 2024-26)

  • Plan for Plastics allows for further additions in future
VICTORIA
Ban to take effect in Feb 2023 after consultation
  • Will include single-use plastic straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, polystyrene food and drink containers, and plastic cotton bud sticks
  • Govt agencies to ban by Feb 2022

 

Back to March 2021 Newsletter page >>

 

Recycle photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com

Copyright 2021 Boomerang Alliance © All Rights Reserved

 

We acknowledge that the name of our organisation includes the name of the Aboriginal tool, the BOOMERANG, adopted for the symbolism of returning to the user. We hope that the resources we use, which all come from the land, will be part of a circular economy and return to that economy again and again. We respectfully commit to Care for Country in the spirit of the Indigenous custodians of this land and these waters. We recognise that there has never been compensation for stolen country. We continue to show our respect to Indigenous leaders, past, present and emerging. May we all walk respectfully on the land and protect the waterways which are life.

 

 

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