Spotlight: Single Use, No Use

SPOTLIGHT

Single Use, No Use

South Australia becomes the first state to ban single-use plastics.

Some single-use plastics will no longer be sold from early this year in South Australia as the ban on items such as plastic straws and cutlery comes into effect. Similarly, come July, the ACT Government introduces its ban on single-use plastics.

South Australia is the first to move on the Federal Government’s national waste plan, which has an objective to phase out problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics and packaging by 2025.

Western Australia, Queensland and the ACT will not be too far behind SA in implementing bans of their own. Like SA, they will outlaw the sale and use of single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers. Foam cups, bowls, plates and clamshell containers are also on the hit list for legislation in some states; plastic plates and bowls for others.

And while businesses and consumers are increasingly seeking out alternatives to single-use plastic, SA’s ban is a reminder that not all plastic or plastic-use is bad. Some plastic can be recycled, some is necessary for food safety, to ensure hygiene, some is used more than once, and some is vital in healthcare to ensure hygiene and safety.

It is a wide and complicated issue but encouraging steps are being made all the time. shop.bunzl.com.au/sustainability