SUSTAINABILITY
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS PHASE-OUT
Key Changes, by Jurisdiction
National Overview
Each state and territory government has outlined their own approach and timelines to achieve the nationally-agreed 2025 targets for waste and packaging. Click here for the ARA’s one-page overview of the changes that have already been implemented and the phase-outs that are still to come.
Australian Capital Territory
From 01 July 2022, the ACT will ban plastic straws, cotton buds with plastic sticks and all oxo-degradable plastics, and all plastic takeaway containers and microbeads from 01 July 2023. This follows earlier bans on lightweight plastic bags, plastic straws and stirrers, polystyrene takeaway containers and cups.
New South Wales
On 01 June 2022, NSW become the last Australian jurisdiction to ban lightweight plastic bags. From 01 November, NSW will also ban plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery, polystyrene food service items, cotton buds with plastic sticks and microbeads. Bans on other single-use plastics will be subject to a review in 2024.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory plans to phase out most single-use plastics by July of 2025 but has not detailed plans for plastic lids and cups, plastic-lined paper cups or plastic produce bags. Their full Circular Economy Strategy can be viewed here. Darwin City Council has completely banned single-use food service items since 2019.
Queensland
Since banning several common single-use food service items and utensils in September 2021, the Queensland government has now detailed its future plans to phase-out other single-use plastics, starting with plastic drinking cups, single-use produce bags, polystyrene trays, oxo-degradable plastics, plastic-stemmed cotton bauds and personal care products including plastic microbeads from September 2023. The QLD government has also proposed a new standard for the minimum thresholds for reusability.
South Australia
South Australia has taken gradual steps in eliminating plastic, with tranches of newly banned items annually from 2021 to 2024. Changes to come from March 2023 will restrict produce bags and microbeads, with all plastic bags, plastic cups and lids, plastic-lined paper cups and takeaway containers from March 2024.
Tasmania
To date, the Tasmanian government has only banned lightweight plastic bags and is yet to outline its timetable for the phase-out of single-use plastics. However, the City of Hobart has introduced local bi-laws that ban selected takeaway packaging. Click here for more.
Victoria
The Victorian government has flagged bans for a range of plastic products from February 2023, including most food service items. There is still ambiguity surrounding the phase-out of produce bags, plastic cups and lids, plastic-lined paper cups, heavy plastic bags, cotton buds and microbeads. Click here for more
Western Australia
WA Plan for Plastics outlines a broad range of single-use plastics banned from July 2022 and October 2022, including all plastic bags and most food service items. Other proposed bans are planned for July 2023, including plastic cups and lids, plastic-lined paper cups and all oxo-degradable plastics.
Member Resources
ARA WEBINAR
Join us for this member-only webinar looking at the state-by-state ban on single-use plastics, with insights from industry experts about what business needs to do to prepare for and comply with these bans. Click here
APCO 2025 PACKAGING TARGETS
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is the organisation charged by government to work with industry to facilitate the delivery of the National Packaging Targets by December 2025. Read more here
MINDEROO PLASTIC WASTE INDEX
OECD GLOBAL PLASTIC S OUTLOOK
Member and Industry News
Woolworths and Big W are phasing out plastic shopping bags
By July 2023, consumers won’t be able to buy a reusable plastic shopping bag from Woolworths or Big W, eliminating 9,000 tonnes of plastic bags from circulation each year. Read here
Coles launches reusable shopping bags made from marine waste
Coles will roll out plastic bags made with 20 per cent marine waste and 80 per cent recycled plastic, made from recovered plastics from inland and ocean-feeding waterways. Read here
Single-use plastic bag ban comes into effect in NSW
On 01 June 2022, NSW banned lightweight single-use plastic bags, the first item to phased out in the state this year as part of the government’s plan to cut litter and pollution. Read here
Next round of plastics bans for Canberra and ACT announced
Plastic straws, cotton buds with plastic sticks and oxo-degradable plastics will be banned in Canberra from 01 July 2022, as the ACT transitions further away from a reliance on single-use plastics. Read here
WA's ban on coffee cups, plastic bags and takeaway containers
In 2021, WA announced it is fast-tracking its planned phase out of single-use plastics, starting with plastic straws, cups, plates and cutlery on 01 July 2022. More items will follow in October 2022 and July 2023. Read here
Plastic pollution reduces on Australia’s beaches by 29%
New research published by the CSIRO confirms that plastic pollution on Australia’s coasts has decreased by 29% since 2013. Despite that Australia, produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year.Read here
Member Commitments
The following ARA members have signed the ANZPAC Plastic Pact – driving investment and industry-led innovation to reduce plastic pollution in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands region. Find out more and join the pledge here
