New single-use plastic items to be banned in NSW from November 1, 2022

From today businesses caught supplying any of these common items could cop a $11,000 fine, as new bans take place across NSW.

From today, businesses will be banned from selling a number of common items, as new bans on single-use plastics take effect in NSW.

The ban on single-use plastic bags which began on June 1 will be expanded from November 1 to include items such as plastic straws, cutlery and certain hair and face products.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said the NSW plastic bans were just the “beginning of our massive shift away from single-use plastic.”

He said the bans will prevent 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment over the next 20 years.

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Single-use plastic cutlery will be part of the ban.

Plastic straws will also be prohibited.

Here is a full list of the items that businesses will be banned from supplying from today:

• single-use plastic cutlery, stirrers, straws, plates and bowls, expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service items (including EPS clamshells, cups, plates and bowls)

• single-use plastic cotton buds

• certain rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads, including face and body cleansers, exfoliants, masks, shampoo, conditioner, hair dyes, and toothpaste

Retail and hospitality businesses must abide by the new bans, including restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels.

Charities and individuals undertaking an activity for sporting, education or community purposes must also follow the new rules.

Polystyrene foam food containers will no longer be supplied by retailers and hospitality venues under the changes. Picture: NCW NewsWire / Dan Peled

Certain face, body and hair products containing microbeads will also be banned. Picture: Fred Dott/Greenpeace

There are some exceptions to the new bans, including providing plastic straws upon request to people with a disability or medical need.

Single-use plastic bowls designed or intended to have a spill-proof lid and serving utensils or serving ware, such as tongs and platters, are also exempt.

The exemptions also extend to pre-packaged items that are integrated into the packaging of a food or beverage product through a machine automated process, such as straws attached to a juice box.

The EPA has also granted an exemption, with a two-year review period, for the supply of plastic single-use cotton buds and plastic single-use bowls for medical, scientific and forensic purposes in certain circumstances.

There is a one-off, time bound exemption for plates and bowls that are made of paper or cardboard but have a plastic lining or coating. This exemption expires on October 31, 2024.

It comes after lightweight plastic bags were banned across the state in June 1, 2022, with retailers caught supplying these bags risking a fine of up to $275,000.

A ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect earlier this year. Picture: Fred Dufour/AFP

If caught defying the new bans, businesses could cop an on-the-spot fine of $2750 or up to $11,000 in penalties for individual suppliers, including sole traders.

A maximum $55,000 penalty is possible for corporations and $110,000 for manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors.

As part of the government’s Stop it and Swap it advertising campaign last month, Mr Griffin said single-use plastic bans were critical for our environment.

“About 95 per cent of the litter on beaches and waterways comes from suburban streets, and the vast majority of that litter is single-use plastic,” he said.

“The amount of plastic in our oceans is predicted to outweigh the amount of fish by 2050.

“That is a horrifying prediction and a call to action to ensure our wildlife, like the turtle featured in the campaign, can have a brighter future.”

– with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as New single-use plastic items to be banned in NSW from November 1, 2022