In the last two years, there has been a push to reduce usage of plastic.
Now with the state government’s new single use plastic ban that was implemented on the 1st of this month, this vision is one step closer to becoming reality.
Queensland initially started this shift in 2019 by encouraging people to use Keepcups and buying reusable shopping bags, but when COVID arrived on our shores, this progress was stunted.
According to the media release from the Queensland Government on the 1st of September, from now on, the following items are now banned: “cotton buds with plastic stems, expanded polystyrene loose packaging (such as “peanut” style fill foam), plastic microbeads in rinseable personal care and cleaning products, and the outdoor release of lighter-than-air balloons.”
The Palaszczuk Government has also issued new requirements for reusable shopping bags.
Non-woven plastic shopping bags of 35 microns or thicker will need to pass reusability tests for 125 uses and non-compostable plastic shopping bags must contain a minimum of 80 per cent recycled plastic.
For more tips on how you can reduce plastic use in your household, visit plasticfreejuly.org
