Western Australia phases out single-use plastics

January 3, 2022

As of 1^st January, Western Australia has banned helium balloon releases along with all single-use plastic bowls, cups for cold beverages and hot foods, plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, expanded polystyrene food containers and thick plastic bags.

A six-month transition period will allow businesses to use up supplies and adapt to the changes for all items, except for cups which will have an extended transition period to 1^st October, 2022 to allow time to source alternatives.

In June, the State Government fast-tracked its Plan for Plastics by up to four years, leading to a range of single-use plastics being phased in from 1st January, 2022 and 1st January, 2023.

A community education program run in December 2021 aimed to raise awareness of the single-use plastic bans and to support the community to adapt to the bans.

A State-wide Plastic Free Places Program will begin in March creating partnerships with local governments, marketplaces, shopping centres, businesses, industry and community organisations to become single-use plastic free.

Retailer and supplier education will be implemented from early 2022 to further support industry to adapt by changing to reusable or non-plastic single-use alternatives across the supply chain.

People that require single-use plastic straws to maintain their quality of life will receive a continued supply on request with food or beverage or for sale at select locations.

Western Australian Environment Minister Reece Whitby notes "It is time for Western Australia to take the next step towards a single-use plastic-free future.

"Our State has a strong track record on plastics and was named the top jurisdiction in Australia for its work on plastics by WWF Australia for two years in a row.

"It's time for all Western Australians to think about the small changes they can make to their behaviour by adopting alternatives to single-use plastics and choosing to reuse.

"The community has shown overwhelming support for moves to reduce single-use plastics; the time has come for us to back that sentiment up with action."

Stage 2 of the Plan for Plastics will begin on 1^st January, 2023 and will include bans on plastic barrier/produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, microbeads, oxo-degradable plastics, bowl and cup lids, polystyrene cups and coffee cups.

More information about Western Australia's Plan for Plastics can be found at www.wa.gov.au

14th September 2021 - Australian Government declares its support for legally binding global plastics treaty

31st August 2021 - Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomes Queensland’s ban on single-use plastic

14th June 2021 - NSW and Western Australian Governments announce new plastic bans

1st April 2021 - Legislation passed for phasing out single-use plastics in ACT

11th March 2021 - Queensland Government passes legislation to ban single-use plastics

1st March 2021 - South Australia’s ban on single-use plastic starts today

19th February 2021 - Replas technology partnerships recycle most problematic plastics

9th November 2020 - Western Australian Government releases new strategy to reduce single-use plastics

10th September 2020 - South Australia becomes first state to ban single-use plastics but ban delayed until 2021 due to COVID-19

15th July 2020 - Queensland Government moves to ban single-use plastics to save marine life

16th February 2020 - Second South Australian business goes plastic free

3rd February 2020 - ACT takes action to phase out single-use plastic products

30th December 2019 - National plastics summit set to address Australia’s growing waste problem

9th December 2019 - New Zealand Government commits to next steps on plastic waste management

18th March 2019 - Plastic drinking cups removed from Sydney Showground

24th November 2018 - Phuket launches ground breaking ‘No Foam No Plastic’ environmental initiative

27th July 2018 - ICC Sydney leads in events and venues sector plastic bottle waste reduction

29th January 2018 - Far North Queensland tourism operators back Great Barrier Reef plastic straws ban

12th July 2017 - Taronga Zoo moves toward plastic-free operations

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