Further action on plastic in NSW

What’s this about?

NSW banned some plastic items in 2022, but more action needs to happen.

In 2022, NSW began to tackle problematic plastics by phasing out the supply of items such as:

• lightweight plastic bags
• plastic single-use cutlery
• bowls (without spill-proof lids)
• plates, stirrers and straws
• plastic microbeads in some rinse-off personal care products.

We need to build on our work by targeting additional problematic or unnecessary plastic items.

The Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 gives us the tools to do this, by allowing us to:

• phase out the supply of problematic or unnecessary plastic items
• set design standards for plastic items, including requirements for the way an item must be made, packaged or labelled
• make brand owners responsible for regulated products across their life cycle, from product design to recycling or disposal.

In this paper we identify some plastic items that:

• are frequently littered
• release microplastics into the environment
• contain harmful chemical additives
• are proposed to be regulated in other states and territories.

We need to come together and act to prevent harm to human health and the environment.

Have your say

Have your say online by Sunday 4 February 2024.