Explained: New Single-use plastic bans start in Queensland today, here’s what you need to know

New Single-use plastic bans start today in Queensland, including helium balloons, plastic cotton buds and microbeads. Here’s what you need to know:

New Single-use plastic bans have been introduced in Queensland, including releasing helium balloons, plastic cotton buds and microbeads.

From September 1, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are banning more single-use plastic items.

The latest ban is part of the State Government’s five-year single-use plastics road map.

Single-use lightweight shopping bags have been phased out in 2018 and last year the government banned several plastic food products like straws, cutlery and plates.

New Single-use plastic bans start September 1 in Queensland.

It follows a raft of changes in previous years.

The ban will apply to:

– Cotton buds with plastic stems

– Expanded polystyrene loose packaging (such as “peanut” style fill foam)

– Plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products

– The outdoor release of helium balloons.

The ban also includes plastic shopping bags that do not meet the two new additional requirements of 80% verified recycled content and pass reusability tests for 125 uses.

Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Leanne Linard made the announcement today outside her electorate office in Nundah.

“The Palaszczuk Government is serious about removing plastic waste from our environment.” Minister Linard said

Balloons are on the new single-use plastic hit list.

“That’s why in July 2022 we released a five-year road map for action on single-use plastic items, outlining proposed bans and other collaborative initiatives on further single-use plastic products.

“Along with the single-use plastic bans, we have also introduced a Container Refund Scheme allowing individuals, charities, and community groups to receive a 10c refund when they return an eligible glass, metal or plastic drink container to a container refund point.

“Since this scheme started, more than 6.8 billion containers have been returned through over 360 refund points across Queensland with an additional 1.4 billion collected through kerbside services.”

The road map comes off the back of new survey results which showed 91 per cent of Queenslanders backed further bans on single-use plastics, as well as consultation with retail and environment groups.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard discussing new single-use plastic bans.

Australia’s peak retail body, The National Retail Association (NRA), has welcomed the next stage of single-use plastic items.

The National Retail team has physically visited over 2000 stores across the state in preparation for the new bans, providing information sessions to businesses,

Project Manager for Policy, Ebony Johnson said retailers are highly supportive of sustainable initiatives.

“We go out and do random spot checks and report that to the Queensland government, we’ve done over 2300 visits in 12 months.”

Mrs Johnson said the retailers body would continue advocating for governments to take an ’education before enforcement’ approach to the bans.

Boomerang Alliance Queensland Manager, Toby Hutcheon said the next round of bans was welcomed.

“Plastic stemmed cotton buds and plastic microbeads in personal care products are unnecessary, while polystyrene pellets in loose packaging of products is just wasteful,” he said.

“We applaud the decision to ban the deliberate release of helium balloons in Queensland and urge other States to follow the Queensland example.

“Heavyweight plastic shopping bags continue to be a problem waste, so introducing new rules on what constitutes a reusable bag is good policy.

“Any plastic shopping bag that claims to be reusable must now prove it has been made and designed to complete at least 125 shopping cycles.

“This requirement, fully adopted, is a big step towards only having genuinely reusable bags in the market.”

Although a maximum fine of 50 penalty units can be imposed for contravening the single-use plastic bans, this “education first” approach has meant there has been no need to issue any penalties since the bans were introduced.

Businesses seeking advice or information on the ban should visit the website, contact the National Retail hotline or attend the free online session held every Friday. Visit qldplasticsban.com.au for more information.

Members of the public can continue to report suspected noncompliance through qldplasticsban.com.au or by contacting the NRA.

If businesses are concerned about excess stock that they don’t believe will be compliant with the new requirements, they should contact the NRA or their supplier to discuss options for a way forward.