The next phase of South Australia’s nation-leading initiative to replace the waste and ban single-use plastics kicks off on 1 September. Here’s what’s being phased out.
As of 1 September 2024, the following items will no longer be available for sale, supply or distribution in South Australia:
- Thin plastic barrier bags when used for fruit, vegetables, nuts and confectionery
- Thick supermarket and boutique-style plastic shopping bags, and plastic laminated paper shopping bags
- Single-use plastic hot and cold beverage containers, including coffee cups and lids
- Single-use plastic food containers when used for ‘ready-to-eat’ food
- Expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food containers and EPS trays
- Plastic food bag tags
- Plastic confetti, plus balloon sticks and ties
The latest phase of a game-changing law
South Australia has historically led the nation in the fight against plastic pollution, phasing out lightweight, checkout-style plastic bags way back in 2009.
In 2020, South Australia made history by enacting the Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020, the first legislation of its kind in Australia. This groundbreaking law set the stage for a phased approach to banning single-use plastics, allowing businesses and consumers time to adapt.
Here’s how the bans have rolled out so far:
- March 2021: Single-use plastic straws (with exemptions for health and disability needs), cutlery, and stirrers.
- March 2022: Expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers as well as all items made from oxo-degradable plastic (plastic with additives that breaks into tiny pieces).
- September 2023: Plastic-stemmed cotton buds, single-use plastic bowls and plates, and plastic pizza savers (those little table-like dividers).
Next year, a further phase will kick in, and it will be bye-bye to plastic barrier bags used for dairy products, meat, poultry, fish and seafood, plastic fruit stickers, and plastic soy sauce fish containers from 1 September 2025.
Embracing sustainable alternatives
The best option to avoid any waste is to ‘BYO’ reusable alternatives such as reusable bags, cups and containers to the shops. But if you’re caught short in take-away and ‘ready to eat’ settings, there’s good news – sustainable alternatives are available.
The legislation allows for certified compostable bioplastic items such as barrier bags, shopping bags, and food and beverage containers that meet specific standards. These products, including any leftover food or scraps can be disposed of in your green organics bin in most councils in South Australia, where they’ll be transformed into valuable compost for local farmers and the wine industry.
To help businesses navigate this transition, the South Australian Government has a dedicated website – Replace the Waste – and contact line for businesses, and is continuing its Plastic Free SA program. Through these initiatives, businesses and the community can access free support and guidance on alternative solutions to plastic use and detailed information about the banned items.
Why it matters so much
The urgency of tackling single-use plastic items and raising awareness about reducing plastic consumption in our society can’t be understated. We are on track for the annual flow of plastic into our oceans to nearly triple by 2040, reaching a staggering 29 million metric tonnes. That’s equivalent to about 50 kilograms of plastic for every metre of coastline globally.
Avoiding or eliminating some plastic products altogether and moving to reusable products is part of a circular economy approach which is essential to a sustainable future.
More than 1,500 species are known to ingest plastics, which can mean malnutrition or even death by starvation. About 90 per cent of seabird species have been found with plastic in their stomachs. Animals like sea turtles, little penguins and dolphins can become entangled in plastic waste, causing suffocation or drowning.
As South Australia continues to lead the charge against single-use plastics, residents and businesses should be proud to embrace these changes. By reducing our reliance on single-use plastics and opting for reusable, compostable or recyclable options, we can all contribute to a cleaner, greener environment.
For more details on the upcoming bans and available resources, click here.
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