The Australian Retailers Association (ARA), has urged the ACT Government to revisit the timelines for the next stage of single-use plastics bans.
This week, the ACT Government announced it would ban additional single-use plastics including single-use plastic plates and bowls, expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging and trays, and products containing plastic microbeads from 1 July 2023, providing industry less than five weeks to prepare for and implement the changes.
The government also announced that it would ban heavier “boutique” plastic bags from 1 January 2024.
Paul Zahra, ARA Chief Executive Officer, said while retailers are aligned with the move towards sustainable practices, the last-minute notice around the timing of the bans to take effect in July 2023 fails to give retailers adequate time to prepare for and implement changes.
“Reducing plastic pollution is of utmost importance and we fully support moves to ban single-use plastics – but it requires a practical and collaborative approach between government, industry, and consumers,” Zahra said.
“We have participated in good faith consultation with the government on these bans and are disappointed that the operational logistics of industry have not been considered.
“We are concerned that, without sufficient time to prepare for these bans, the unintended consequence is that we could see a lot of single-use plastic end up in landfill which has environmental and financial ramifications.”
Zahra said retailers need more than three months’ notice to design, acquire and test safe alternatives to single-use plastics. He said it is especially difficult for small businesses to respond to the changes in such a short period of time.
Customers also need adequate knowledge about changes and replacement practices.
He said ARA wants to work with the ACT Government to develop an implementation timeline that members can support and realistically meet.
“We think this could be achieved by deferring these timelines by three months, or at least offering a three-month grace period between the regulations coming into effect and enforcement activities commencing.
“While we are encouraged that the ACT has traditionally taken an education over enforcement approach, our members and their customers do need the clarity of knowing when the bans will come into effect and when they will be enforced.
“Single-use plastics make up a third of the waste we see in our environment. Addressing the challenge of plastic pollution remains a top priority for the retail sector but if we set unrealistic time frames in the transition, we are setting ourselves up to fail.”
For more information visit: www.retail.org.au
Related stories:
More single-use plastic bans in ACT
NSW bans single-use plastic bags, ACT cracks down on straws