Single-use ban means final straw for plastics
A NEW ban on polystyrene packing material and lighter-than-air balloons is expected to pave the way for an eventual outlawing of any non-biodegradable single-use plastic items under sweeping new reforms.
A state government road map to phase out single-use plastics during a five-year period was unveiled by Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon in Cairns on Friday.
By September 1 plastic microbeads, polystyrene packing peanuts and plastic-stemmed cotton buds will be banned. The mass release of lighterthan-air balloons will also be banned next year and new rules will be introduced for heavy plastic bags that require they be made up of 80 per cent recyclable material.
“Ultimately, we want to try and get rid of those single-use plastic items, anything that can’t break down naturally in the environment,” she said.
“Compostable options are generally much better, but we need to make sure the infrastructure is available so that people can actually make sure that they do deteriorate over time.
“Queenslanders have made it clear they want to give more of them the punt. They don’t break down, they fill up our dumps and they kill wildlife.”
Disposable coffee cups and lids could be given the flick by 2024 and a public call will go out to help find alternatives.
“So one of the things we’re actually going to do is more innovation challenge,” Ms Scanlon said.
“We know there are a lot of smart people out there who might be able to help us find a suitable alternative to plastic coffee cups.”
National Retail Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said the organisation had consulted with more than 100,000 retailers across the country who will be on the frontline implementing the rollout of new laws.
“This is great news for our environment,” she said.
“And we know over the last five years we’ve been able to remove 10 billion single-use plastic items from our environment because our retailers absolutely back the change.
“We know that consumers time and time again tell our brands that what they want to see is brands that invest in the environment and make decisions that are going to lead to a more sustainable future.
“It’s actually a global first to see a government enforce 80 per cent recyclable content in bags.”