Lightweight Plastic Bags Banned

The NSW Government’s ban on lightweight plastic bags marks a major pivot away from single-use plastics.

Minister for Environment, James Griffin said the lightweight plastic bag ban was the first of many plastic items being banned in NSW this year.

“I think all of us can see the impact plastic pollution is having on our environment, which is why we’re making major changes in NSW this year,” Mr Griffin said.

“The ban on lightweight single-use bags comes into place from 1 June, and then from November, we’re banning more problematic plastics, such as cutlery and plates.

“Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.

“Single-use plastic items and packaging make up to 60 per cent of all litter in NSW.

“By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter or going into landfill.

“We each have the power to make positive environmental change at an individual level, and I encourage everyone to choose to go plastic-free as often as they can.”

The NSW Government passed the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 in November and introduced the Plastics Action Plan last year.

The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years.

In addition to the June 1 lightweight plastic bag ban, from November the NSW Government will ban:

• Single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds;
• Expanded polystyrene food ware and cups; and
• Rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

So-called ‘compostable’ and ‘bioplastic’ alternatives to the above items will also be banned because they don’t biodegrade unless treated in an industrial composting facility, proving just as problematic as conventional plastics.

The NSW Government has engaged the National Retail Association (NRA) to deliver a comprehensive retailer education campaign to ensure small businesses are ready for the changes.

Minister for Small Business, Eleni Petinos said the NSW Government was supporting more than 40,000 businesses across the state to phase-out single-use plastics.

“The NSW Government has worked with stakeholders to support small businesses to understand how they will be affected, how to comply with new laws and what alternatives they can use to single-use plastics,” Ms Petinos said.

“Through the NRA, we’re running a retailer education campaign, conducting store visits, and providing online webinars and resources to help businesses make the adjustment away from single-use plastics.”

The NRA has launched a free hotline (1800 844 946) to offer businesses, community organisations and consumers advice on the bans on single-use plastic.

• Topics:

• Shopping
• The Environment