Be ready to go plastic free on 1 November

13 October 2022

The NSW Government has committed to banning certain problematic single-use plastics in 2022 with the supply of lightweight plastic bags already banned in NSW.

From 1 November 2022, the supply of these plastic items will also be banned in NSW:

• single-use plastic straws*
• single-use plastic stirrers and cutlery
• single-use plastic bowls and plates**
• expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service items
• single-use plastic cotton buds and
• certain rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

*An exemption applies for providing a plastic straw for people with a disability or medical need.

** A one-off, time bound exemption applies for plates that are made of paper or cardboard but have a plastic lining or coating.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority is the regulator and will monitor and enforce the bans. Find out more at the NSW single use plastic website

The NSW Government in partnership with the National Retail Association is delivering a range of resources and activities to help businesses and organisations with the transition.

Resources include factsheets, signage and point-of-sale materials and translated resources. In association with the NSW Government the National Retail Association will be conducting thousands of in-person visits and hosting online seminars and information sessions.

The National Retail Association will hold weekly Question and Answer information sessions every Friday at 10am AEDT. These sessions are open to all businesses, community organisations and other impacted stakeholders to ask questions about the ban and how to prepare.

For more information and to register for a session, visit www.eventbrite.com.au/.../nsw-plastics-ban-info...

Input from over 16,000 people helped develop this legislation and the related NSW Plastics Action Plan.

Support for action on plastic waste was widespread with 98% supporting a phase out of single-use plastics.