With the start of spring, Queensland has now introduced a ban on single-use plastic items such as straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates and unenclosed bowls, as well as expanded polystyrene cups and takeaway containers.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to ensuring that plastic which is designed to be used only once, is no longer ending up in landfill and harming our environment.
“Banning single-use plastics adds to our record $1.4 billion investment to protect the environment and create jobs as part of our COVID-19 economic recovery, as well as a the hugely successful Containers for Change Program.
“We’ve already seen the enormous benefits of the lightweight single-use plastic shopping bag ban, with surveys showing a 70 per cent reduction in all plastic bag litter since the bag ban began in 2018.
“As our economy and jobs recover from the impacts of COVID-19 thanks to our economic recovery plan, so too will our environment with the ban of even more single-use plastics.
“The ban prevents plastic items being supplied in Queensland regardless of whether they are free with your meal or sold in packets in party supply stores.
And there will be exemptions for particular organisations, to ensure that Queenslanders with disability or healthcare needs can continue to access necessary items.
The National Retail Association (NRA) has been appointed to engage and educate businesses, including visits to up to 7500 businesses across the state, and running a telephone hotline so that businesses can call for advice on banned items and suitable alternative products.
The business hotline number is 1800 844 946 and website is www.qldplasticsban.com.au
Further information on the items that will be banned from September 1 this year is available at www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/management/waste/recovery/reduction/plastic-pollution/single-use-plastic-products-ban