Queensland has advanced its place towards the top of World Wide Fund (WWF)- Australia’s plastics scorecard with the release of a new plan to ban harmful single-use plastics, including disposable coffee cups and lids, cotton buds with plastic stems, and polystyrene packing peanuts. Read more
The sunshine state is set to ban plastic microbeads, polystyrene packing peanuts and plastic-stemmed cotton buds by 1 September 2023 as part of a five-year roadmap to phase out harmful, single-use plastics. Read more
By Dimitris Dimoliatis and Mike Ritchie, MRA Consulting Group
Just over a year ago, the government released Australia’s National Plastics Plan 2021. The plan relies on voluntary actions and aims to provide guidance for increasing plastic recycling, finding alternatives to unnecessary plastics and reducing the environmental impact of plastic.
One year on, and it looks like most of its targets will be missed, including the phasing out of EPS packaging and containers, the certification to Australian standards of all compostable packaging and the phasing out of PVC labels.
Although its implementation has been less than ideal, the pan itself provides a strong foundation for tackling plastic waste in Australia. We take a look at the plan’s key points. Read more
Coles will remove plastic measuring scoops from Coles Brand laundry powders, saving three tonnes of plastic in a single year. Read more
Mornington Peninsula Shire is helping sports clubs and community groups phase out a reliance on plastics with a single-use plastic grant. Read more
Businesses across New South Wales are being given a helping hand to transition away from single-use plastics, thanks to a new partnership between the NSW Government and the National Retail Association (NRA). Read more
The ACT Government is cutting harmful single-use plastics from more major events in Canberra, including at GIO Stadium and Manuka Oval. Read more
Following the success of the ban on a variety of single-use plastic items in September 2021, Queenslanders are being asked to have their say on what single-use plastics should be banned next.
The end is near for single-use plastics, including bags, straws, cotton buds, plates, bowls and cutlery, after the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 passed NSW Parliament on Tuesday. Read more
Bacteria which have been shown to degrade and assimilate plastic, has been a key area of international research since 2016. Now a University of Manchester-based team of scientists has made a biotechnological breakthrough which may help reduce plastic waste.