QLD/SA announce next stage of plastics ban- Australia

Posted on December 7, 2021 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting Regulations

Source article

Queensland and South Australia have announced consultations on the next stage in their plan to ban on up to 20 single use plastic items.

‘’The field of items has widened considerably with products such as plastic cups, polystyrene meat and fruit trays, barrier bags, sauce sachets, confetti, bait bags and fruit stickers in the frame. Importantly, so-called biodegradable plastics allowed in past years but chemically treated to fragment and spread microplastics into the environment will be prohibited,’’ said Jeff Angel, Director of the Alliance.

‘’There is a mix of timetables for particular items up to 2024 in the South Australian proposal; while Qld has yet to declare its rollout plan. We urge both states to move quickly, and set the benchmark for the rest of Australia. There are plenty of alternatives in the market.  They can be avoided, they can be replaced with reusable items or switched to non-plastic or certified compostable items. We need to stop the ever growing load of plastic pollution in our environment.’

‘’The sooner we can harmonise across Australia the better it will be for our waterways, oceans, marine life, food chain, consumers and retailers.

Read more: Glass recycling plant for West Melbourne

‘’With almost one third of the 3.5m tonnes of plastic consumed in Australia every year, being for single uses and the vast bulk littered or landfilled – we need to act asap,’’ said Angel.

Both Queensland and South Australia have websites that offer an array of information about what they hope to achieve with the consultations including a survey, as well as explaining on what types of plastics will be affected by a ban. Both states are also looking for feedback from stakeholders.

To access the South Australian discussion paper, please click here.

To access the Queensland discussion paper, please click here.