Victoria to ban single-use straws, cutlery, polystyrene containers by 2023

These plastic items will soon be banned in Victoria, just over a year after the state axed single-use plastic bags.

More single-use plastic items will be banned in Victoria from 2023 in a bid to cut down on landfill waste.

The ban will apply to straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, cotton bud sticks and polystyrene food and drink containers.

But other single use items such as bowls and plastic containers will not be affected, in an effort to minimise the impact on businesses offering takeaway.

Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Saturday announced plans to phase out the plastics from all cafes, restaurants and organisations over the next two years.

Government departments will remove certain types of products early, with their ban to take effect from February 2023.

Ms D’Ambrosio said the products made up about a third of the state’s litter, with a significant share of the single-use plastics appearing in landfill.

“This is about taking a gradual step towards addressing plastics in our environment,” she said.

“We believe that these are the easiest items that have substitutes available right now.”

She added: “We know that single use plastics individually can have devastating affects on our wildlife.

“When you’re at the supermarket or at a cafe, we all need to be mindful of the choices we make and reduce the single use plastic we use.”

The minister could not yet say what the additional costs would be for businesses purchasing new products but said the government would work with industries to assist the transition.

She also flagged that more reusable and environmentally friendly replacements could be manufactured in Victoria, with government support available for this sector.