NSW plastic ban will divert 2.7 billion plastic items from oceans but balloons still need to be banned

From today, plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, unlidded plates and bowls, expanded polystyrene food service items, plastic cotton bud sticks, and microbeads in cosmetics will be banned in NSW. Lightweight plastic shopping bags have been banned in the state since 1st June this year.

Under the new laws, on-the-spot fines can be issued of up to $1100 for individual businesses and $5500 for corporations who continue to supply banned plastic items.

However, the government chose not to act on balloons leaving NSW and the ACT as the only jurisdictions with laws that explicitly allow the reckless practice of releasing balloons into the sky.

Australian Marine Conservation Society notes that today’s ban on single-use plastics turns New South Wales “from a laggard to a leader in the fight against ocean plastics.”

According to government figures, plastics such as shopping bags, disposable cutlery and straws are some of the most commonly found plastics along our coasts and in our oceans. Today’s ban is projected to stop up to 2.7 billion plastic items from entering our natural environment over the next 20 years.

AMCS plastics campaign manager Shane Cucow highlights “this plastics ban is a huge win for our dolphins, whales and seabirds, and all Australians who love our oceans.

“As the state with the largest plastic footprint, NSW is pivotal to ending ocean plastic pollution.

“We thank the government for listening to ocean lovers, who have been demanding action to clean up plastic pollution and restore our beautiful marine environment.”

Cucow said it was important the laws were soon expanded to include other lethal plastics, expressing disappointment that the government chose not to act on balloons.

“Balloons are the biggest plastic killer of seabirds, 32 times more likely to kill birds than hard plastic waste. It’s time to end this dangerous practice once and for all.”

When the laws were passed, an amendment to ban balloon releases was moved by the Animal Justice Party and supported by Labor and the Greens, but it failed by one vote with the government opposed.

The laws also exclude plastic cups and thicker plastic bags, which are banned in Western Australia.

Single-use plastics are now banned in more than half of Australia’s states and territories, with South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland laws commencing in 2021, and Western Australia banning single-use plastics earlier this year. Victoria’s ban is due to commence in February 2023.

Tasmania is the only Australian state without an explicit roadmap for banning single-use plastics.

At a meeting of environment ministers last month, Australia’s environment ministers committed to work towards nationally consistent definitions of single-use plastics and reform of Australia’s packaging laws by 2025.