Palaszczuk Government to ask Queenslanders about ‘foam’ cup ban

There are already plans in play to ban single-use plastics but now all polystyrene containers could be ditched. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Polystyrene coffee cups and food containers would be outlawed in Queensland under a proposal put forward by the Palaszczuk Government to stamp out single-use waste.

The government announced plans today to expand their single-use plastics ban to also include polystyrenes in a move that would see anyone busted selling the product slapped with a $6672 fine.

The government will go out to consultation over the coming weeks to gauge support for slapping a ban on foam containers, such as clam shells, as well as polystyrene takeaway tea and coffee cups.

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Brendan Radke

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said they wanted to hear from both the community and industry as part of their consultation process, which is due to close next month.

Reintroducing laws today that will also outlaw single-use plastic straws, plates, stirrers and cutlery, the Minister confirmed that any ban would not come into effect until after September 1 next year.

“This will allow businesses and the hospitality industry time to source appropriate products and further consultation to occur,” Ms Scanlon said.

“This Bill will ban the supply and sale of single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates, and provide provisions for more single-use plastic items to be banned in the future, subject to public consultation.”

Any business caught selling the products would be slapped with a fine of up to $6672.

The government has previously flagged in the past that they would also go out to consultation to ban other items, such as plastic cups and heavy-weight plastic bags.

Of the more than 19,600 submissions made to a government survey earlier this year, 94 per cent of respondents supported a plastics ban, while 90 per cent approved of a start date of July 1, 2021.

The plastics ban Bill is expected to pass the parliament in early 2021.

Originally published as Palaszczuk Government to ask Queenslanders about ‘foam’ cup ban