Single-use plastics are on their way out, with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) calling for feedback on draft regulations to enforce the banning of select items.
Opening feedback on its draft Environment Protection Amendment (Banning Single-Use Plastic Items) Regulations 2022 and the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), DELWP said single-use plastic straws, plates, cutlery, drink-stirrers, expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, and cotton bud sticks would be banned from sale and supply in Victoria from 1 February next year.
“(The RIS) assesses the costs and benefits of the proposed ban and tests different options of how the ban could be implemented to achieve the Victorian Government’s objectives of reducing plastic pollution,” DELWP said.
The Government is leading by example, having already begun phasing out single-use plastic in the Public Service.
Welcoming the draft Regulations, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said plastics in the environment broke up into smaller and smaller pieces over time, “becoming increasingly difficult to manage”.
“Banning single-use plastics from sale and supply across Victoria is a crucial step in safeguarding our waterways, lakes and oceans — contributing to litter and posing a significant hazard to our marine life,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“Victorians can help stop plastic pollution and start preparing for the ban by avoiding single-use plastic items where possible and choosing reusable alternatives instead,” she said.
The Department said people could provide feedback via written submission to [email protected] or an online survey until 15 May.
DELWP’s nine-page draft Regulations and 70-page RIS can be downloaded at this PS News link and its feedback survey can be accessed at this link.
