Victoria’s single-use plastic bans came into force this week (1 February) with Sustainability Victoria (SV) launching the work to support the transition.
Interim Chief Executive of SV, Matt Genever said the ban applied to the sale and supply of single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers and cotton bud sticks made from conventional, degradable and compostable plastics.
Mr Genever said it also applied to food service items and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene.
“SV is supporting the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action in the delivery of the single-use plastic ban, providing a complementary focus on increasing re-use across the hospitality industry,” Mr Genever said.
“SV is focused on promoting the uptake of re-usables within the hospitality industry, as well as waste avoidance,” he said.
“We’re encouraging food-serving businesses to look at where they sit in the circular economy and consider how they can drive re-use over single use.”
Mr Genever said that in preparing for the ban, SV engaged face-to-face with more than 3,400 hospitality businesses in 34 local governments areas across Gippsland, Barwon South West and metropolitan Melbourne, with a strong focus on reaching culturally and linguistically diverse business owners and staff.
He said the Agency also held free online masterclasses for businesses to learn more about implementing re-use options.
“More than half of the businesses SV reached out to ahead of the single-use plastic ban were also keen to learn more about re-usable systems in a positive sign for Victoria’s transition to a circular economy,” the Interim Chief Executive said.
“SV is also supporting food-serving businesses to replace single-use plastics with re-usable items through the Circular Economy Reuse Pilots Fund,” he said.
