South Australia is set to be the first state to ban certain single-use plastics, with a prohibition on straws and cutlery, amongst other items, to kick in from next year.
Premier Steven Marshall unveiled the plan earlier today on Twitter, saying that SA has “lead the nation” in waste management” and will now do so on plastic.
BREAKING: The Marshall Liberal Government will ban a range of single-use plastics in South Australia under proposed legislation to be introduced into State Parliament.
SA has lead the nation in waste management and now we will lead the nation on single-use plastics.
MORE TO COME pic.twitter.com/XmCZslS3B8— Steven Marshall, MP (@marshall_steven) July 5, 2019
The plan was announced after a six-week public consultation period. The legislation will be drafted this year and will go before parliament in 2020.
Speaking with ABC News, the state’s environment minister David Speirs said of the new rules:
“At first, we will look at products including plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers, with items such as takeaway polystyrene containers and cups next. Further consideration would be needed when looking at takeaway coffee cups, plastic bags and other takeaway food service items following consultation.”
In March of this year, Hobart City Council voted in favour of a single-use plastics ban by 2020, making the Tasmanian capital the first Australian city to do so.
The ban will outlaw plastic straws, containers, cutlery, coffee cups and drink cup lids, and city businesses will be forced to transition to reusable or recyclable materials, such as cardboard or wood.
Hobart councillor Bill Harvey said that the city is “serious about leading by example”, adding that “we’ve set a precedent that now hopefully many other councils will follow.”
