Go Greener – Plastic ban in NSW and Plastic Free July

60% of all litter in NSW comes from plastic packaging and single use plastic items. On June 1, NSW became the last state in the country to ban problematic plastics. This ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years.

The ban includes lightweight plastic bags with handles, 35 micron or less in thickness.  Any lightweight bags made from biodegradable plastics, compostable plastics, or bio-plastics are also banned, including those made from Australian certified compostable plastic. However, is does not include produce bags and deli bags, bin liners, human or animal waste bags or bags to contain items for medical purposes

From November 1, the ban will include single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and swizzle sticks, as well as cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, sporks, splayds, chopsticks, and food picks). It will also target single use plastic plates and bowls as well as polystyrene food ware.

More information about this ban can be found on the NSW Government website.

Plastic free July is starting in a couple of weeks. This initiative has been operating since 2011 and is organised by the Plastic Free Foundation. It aims to encourage us to work towards the vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste.

You may like to take the challenge of being plastic free in July. More information about this can be found on the Plastic Free July website. 

Sue Zipfinger
Sustainability Coordinator