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The Plastic Reduction Bill 2020 passed the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly yesterday, delivering a framework for progressively phasing out single-use plastics over time.

The passage of laws will ban the use of single-use plastic cutlery, drink stirrers and polystyrene food and beverage containers in the ACT effective from 1st July 2021.

In an Australian first, the legislation also gives the ACT Government the power to declare public events as single-use plastic free. This means that other single-use plastic items could be banned at public events beyond the initial items to be phased out from 1st July.

These events could include Floriade, major festivals and sporting matches. The decision to declare events single-use plastic free will be made in close consultation with event organisers.

The ACT Government has indicated the next tranche of the ban is expected to commence on 1st July 2022, and include single use plastic straws (with exemptions for those who need them), single-use plastic barrier bags (used for items like fresh produce, meat, deli and seafood), and all products made from degradable plastic.

ACT Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel noted “Canberrans are already some of the nation’s best recyclers and we know this shift away from single use plastics is strongly supported by the Canberra community.

“It’s been fantastic to see that so many local businesses have already made the switch to more sustainable materials, reflecting our community’s values.

“Now we are making sure there is a level playing field for all businesses by banning the sale and use of cheap single-use plastics which do so much harm to our environment.

“We’ve seen great engagement by Canberra’s local businesses and their supporting associations in developing our comprehensive local plan to phase out single use plastics.

“I’d encourage all Canberrans to support the switch by embracing the alternative products businesses will be providing in the months to come.”

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) spokesperson Shane Cucow said the new laws were vital and welcomed the ACT Government’s commitment to include straws in 2022.

“We congratulate the ACT Government for becoming the third Australian state or territory to ban single-use plastics, giving our ocean wildlife hope for the future.

“In particular, we thank the ACT Government for listening to ocean lovers and committing to add straws and produce bags to the ban in 2022, pending further consultation.

“Straws and soft plastic bags are some of the most notorious killers of seabirds, turtles and marine mammals, causing life threatening blockages or internal injuries when eaten.

“With safe, earth friendly alternatives available it is time to put our wildlife first and ditch these killer plastics.”

Cucow said the focus was now on states like New South Wales, which is the biggest producer of plastic pollution noting “with South Australia, Queensland, the ACT, plus Victoria and Western Australia all working to ban these killer plastics, it is time for our most populous state to step up to the plate.

“Every day we wait, we lose more animal lives. It’s time to stop the tide of plastic flowing into our oceans.”

The ACT Government will take an educative approach to compliance in the first stages of the ban, supporting business and the community to transition to the new requirements.

For more information on the ACT’s ban on selected single-use plastics, visit: www.act.gov.au/single-use-plastics.

Australian state and territory commitments on single-use plastics:

• NSW has recently finished public consultations that canvassed the idea of a ban on single-use plastics. They are yet to announce their plans.
• South Australia’s ban on single-use plastics commenced on 1st March 2021, banning plastic cutlery, straws and drink stirrers.
• Queensland’s ban was passed into law just weeks ago, with the ban commencing on 1st September 2021. Their ban will outlaw plastic straws, drink stirrers, cutlery, polystyrene food & beverage containers, and single-use plastic plates and bowls.
• The WA Government has committed to phase out single-use plastic plates, straws, cutlery, drink stirrers, heavyweight plastic bags, polystyrene food containers and helium balloon releases by 2023.
• The Victorian government recently announced they will move to ban angle use plastics by February 2023, including single-use plastic straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, polystyrene food and drink containers, and plastic cotton bud sticks. In correspondence with AMCS, the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has confirmed oxo-degradable plastics will also be included in the ban.
• Tasmania and the Northern Territory have made no commitments to ban single-use plastics.

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