From 1 November 2022, the supply of plastic single-use cotton buds and bowls* is banned in NSW.
A ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers in England came into force on Thursday, in the latest attempt to mitigate the effect of plastic pollution on the environment.
From Wednesday 1 February, single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, cotton bud sticks and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers will be banned from sale and supply in Victoria.
New South Wales
On 01 June 2022, NSW become the last Australian jurisdiction to ban lightweight plastic bags. From 01 November, NSW will also ban plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery, polystyrene food service items, cotton buds with plastic sticks and microbeads.
Restricted items include drugs, steroids, weapons/firearms, heritage items, food, plants and animals, and protected wildlife. It is important to note that while some items may be imported, their use may be prohibited under individual State laws.
Single-use plastics ban: plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery and balloon sticks. From 1 October 2023 businesses must no longer supply, sell or offer certain single-use plastic items in England.
The ban on supplying plastic straws and stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds has come into force in England today (Thursday 1 October), marking yet another major step in the Government's fight against single-use plastic waste to protect our environment and clean up our oceans.
As part of this ban, the items that have been banned are - ice cream sticks; candy sticks; polythene bags; plastic plates; cups, glasses & cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw & trays made with plastic, wrapping films on sweet boxes, stirrers, wrapping/packaging films like cling wraps.
Plastic bag bans in Australia were implemented in the early 21st century by the country's states and territories, rather than through federal law. The intent of the bans is to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the environment, both in and around Australia and globally.
Ban came into effect 1 June 2022
The NSW Government introduced a ban on all lightweight plastic shopping bags which have a thickness of 35 microns or less, including degradable, biodegradable and compostable bags. The NRA has officially partnered with the NSW Government to assist retailers throughout the transition.
the plastic single-use cotton buds are not for sale, or made available for sale, to a member of the public, unless the cotton bud is part of a permitted kit (i.e. first aid kit or kit used for medical, scientific or forensic testing, such as a COVID-19 test), and.
Single-use plastic straws, plates, and cutlery to be banned in Victoria. From February 1, 2023, the most common single-use plastic products will be banned throughout Victoria. Find out how it will impact you and local businesses.
Environmental impact
The European Union instated a ban on the use of plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in 2021. Italy had previously instated a ban in 2019 and Monaco in 2020. England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man each instated a ban between 2019 and 2021.
The move is part of England's 25-Year Environmental Plan, a strategy developed to help reduce waste in the country's water bodies that's proving harmful to animals and humans alike. A recent tax on plastic shopping bags intended to curb their use dropped bag circulation by 90 percent.
They're one of the beauty industry's best-loved multi-taskers, but they're also an environmental scourge. Now, the government has announced that from 2020, plastic cotton buds will be banned altogether.
You probably know polymer film by its many other names: cling film, cling wrap or food wrap. This thin plastic film is used for sealing food items, often in containers, and is used to keep food fresh. You can find it in every supermarket where it's sold on a roll, usually packed into a box with a cutting edge.
Food plastic wrap, also known as cling film, food wrap, and saran wrap, is a thin plastic film commonly used for sealing and securing food items in containers to keep fresh.
Single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers are being banned in England from the 1st October 2020.
Ditch the plastic straws for a better planet. McDonald's has jumped on the sustainable bandwagon with its latest move to finally go strawless. On Facebook, the fast-food establishment announced that cold beverages would come with sippy lids as part of its collective movement towards a greener planet.
A range of single-use plastic products including cotton buds and plastic straws have now been banned from sale and distribution in England. Cotton buds are small and seem like a harmless way to clean our ears but when disposed of, they take a long time to break down.
Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned in England under plans to tackle water pollution, environment minister Therese Coffey has told BBC News. The ban on plastic-based wipes should come into force in the next year following a consultation, Ms Coffey said.
Norway recycles 97% of its plastic bottles
According to the chief executive of Infinitum, the company that runs the program, some of those plastic bottles have been recycled more than 50 times so far, and now, less than 1% of plastic bottles litter the environment.