Not a single fine issued over Queensland’s plastics ban

Queensland’s single-use plastics ban has been in place for more than four months, but not a single fine has yet been issued. This is why.

Not a single fine has been issued under the Palaszczuk government’s new single use plastics ban, with the state’s Environment Department choosing to take an awareness-first approach instead.

The department has engaged the National Retail Association (NRA), which as of December has conducted more than 250 spot checks on retailers – finding a compliance rate of over 70 per cent.

Under the new laws, fines of more than $6000 can be issued to businesses caught breaking the rules, but so far not a single infringement notice has been given out.

The department says it is taking an “awareness and education-first” approach to compliance to ensure businesses are aware of the ban, and know what they need to do.

As of about mid-December, the department said the NRA had investigated 108 cases of “suspected noncompliance”, with 62 of those cases “resolved satisfactorily” – and no further action required from the department.

“In relation to the unresolved cases, some of these require further information be provided by the suppliers and manufacturers in order to, for example, verify that a compostable item meets the relevant Australian standard,” a department spokesman said.

“This can take some time so while the information is being verified, the case remains open.”

Under the plastics ban, which came into effect on September 1, businesses must not supply any single-use plastic straws, stirrers, bowls, cutlery and expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers.

The compliance model with the NRA is similar to the one that was in place when single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags were outlawed – which the department said “worked successfully”.

“Where retailers are found to be unaware of the requirements, the NRA follows up with further information and visits,” the spokesman.

“This ensures only legitimate noncompliance matters are referred to the department for follow-up investigation or enforcement action.

“For example, the NRA has investigated a number of reports of noncompliance relating to compostable plastic straws, which people have mistaken for banned plastic straws.”

The ban could soon be widened, with the government currently running a survey to determine what other single-use items could be outlawed.

Originally published as Not a single fine issued over Queensland’s plastics ban