New restrictions banning single-use plastics, including cotton buds with plastic stems and expanded polystyrene loose packaging, went into effect in Queensland, following the Palaszczuk Government’s announcement on Friday.
The new regulations follow those that were implemented in September 2021 and forbade the use of single-use plastics such as expanded polystyrene cups, plates, stirrers, straws, and stirrers.
Additional regulations on heavyweight plastic shopping bags, such as department store bags, have also been implemented.
In particular, non-woven plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or greater must pass reusability tests for 125 uses, and non-compostable plastic shopping bags must include at least 80 per cent recycled material.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leanne Linard emphasised Queensland’s commitment to eradicating plastic waste from the ecosystem.
“Plastic products are useful parts of our everyday lives, providing many positive benefits, but plastic pollution is a growing problem when it ends up in the wrong place, impacting the health of our communities, our environment and wildlife,” Minister Linard explained.
She added that the government is aiming to make Queensland a zero-waste society, in which trash is avoided, reused, and recycled to the greatest extent possible.
The minister expressed her delight that the message about how important it is to maintain our environment free of plastic waste is reaching the community.
In addition to the single-use plastic bans, Minister Linard said the government has implemented a Container Refund Scheme, which allows individuals, charities, and community groups to receive a 10-cent refund when they return an eligible glass, metal, or plastic drink container to a container refund point.
“Since this scheme started, more than 6.8 billion containers have been returned through over 360 refund points across Queensland with an additional 1.4 billion collected through kerbside services,” Linard said.
She added, “Single-use plastics bans and the Container Refund Scheme have combined to eliminate an enormous amount of plastic and container litter from entering our environment and landfills.”
The Palaszczuk Government has also teamed up with the National Retail Association (NRA) to assist firms in comprehending the new regulations and complying with the prohibition, particularly by offering guidance on how to handle current stock.
In preparation for the new prohibitions, the National Retail team has physically visited over 2000 locations around the state, provided companies with education sessions, and is offering a toll-free hotline for businesses to obtain guidance and support to comply.
Prior to the implementation of the new single-use plastic restrictions, consultation was conducted to ascertain whether acceptable alternatives were available and whether measures other than a ban would be more appropriate.
The new regulations follow those that were implemented in September 2021 and forbade the use of single-use plastics such as expanded polystyrene cups, plates, stirrers, straws, and stirrers.
