States Announced Ban on Use of Single-Use Plastic Items
Meantime, Western Australia has gone one step further to become the first jurisdiction to dump plastic coffee cups and lids.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Several Australian states plan to impose ban on single-use plastic items, in a bid to protect the environment.
Accordingly, New South Wales announced that it will ban common single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, cotton buds and straws. This is part of the previously announced $356 million five-year plan, aimed at reducing waste and maximising recycling. However, it may take time for actual legislation in place. The scheme will encourage businesses to switch to greener alternatives. As a next step, the government plans to impose penalty on non-compliant businesses.
The ban will be imposed in a phased manner. According to the government notification, the timeline given for lightweight plastic shopping bags is six months, after which the use of them will be prohibited. The deadline for plastic straws and cutlery is one year, whereas other products such as heavyweight bags and fruit stickers will be phased out in three years, the notification said.
Matt Kean, NSW Environment Minister said that the move will save nearly 2.7 billion items of plastic litter over the next 20 years.
Meantime, Western Australia has gone one step further to become the first jurisdiction to dump plastic coffee cups and lids.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
Colorado Senate Approves Ban on Single-Use Plastics and Polystyrene
- Oceana Canada Poll Revealed Overwhelming Support to Single-Use Plastics Ban
- Republic Services Polymer Center Honored as Industry’s 2023 Sustainability Game Changer
- Eastman Secures PET Waste Stream to Feed $1 Billion Molecular Recycling Facility
- Lagos, UNIDO Collaborated to Promote Circular Plastics Economy