The next phase of Victoria’s landmark ban on single-use plastics is set to be introduced next week.
From Wednesday 1 February, single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, cotton bud sticks and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers will be banned from sale and supply in Victoria.
Single-use plastics currently make up a third of Victoria’s litter, pollute precious waterways and harm wildlife. These items are often only used for a few minutes, yet generate a significant amount of waste – and can be easily avoided or replaced with reusable alternatives.
The latest tranche builds on the Labor Government’s ban on plastic shopping bags in 2019, and a $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling system and divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.
Last year, the government invested $1 million towards new technology that will turn hard-to-recycle materials such as cartons and coffee cups into sustainable building products.
As part of this transformation, Victoria will move to a standardised four-stream bin system – supporting households to sort their waste and recycling to reduce landfill – and have access to a container deposit scheme which will maximise the return of used drink cans, bottles and cartons for recycling.
Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt said Victoria is taking action to protect the state’s environment and reduce pollution by banning single-use plastic items and supporting businesses to instead switch to reusables.
“Plastic pollution has significant impacts on our health, wildlife, and the environment. This single-use plastics ban is a crucial step to protect Victoria’s rivers, waterways and oceans from plastic pollution.”
Since February 2021, the government has delivered $595,000 in grants to 15 pilot sites including catering businesses, universities and aged care facilities to help replace their single-use items with reusable alternatives.
The government has worked with organisations such as the National Retail Association to help thousands of retail and hospitality businesses prepare for the change, with more than 6500 visits to metropolitan and regional businesses across the state.
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