Single-use plastic bowls, cups, plates, cutlery, straws to be phased out in WA from January 1, 2022

Friday, 31 December 2021 10:53

By Monique Welhan

Nine single-use plastic items will be phased out in Western Australia from January 1, 2022.

Single-use plastic bowls, cups for cold beverages and hot foods, plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, expanded polystyrene food containers, thick plastic bags and helium balloon releases will all be banned.

People that require single-use plastic straws to maintain their quality of life will receive a continued supply on request with food or beverage or for sale at select locations.

A six-month transition period will allow businesses to use up supplies and adapt to the changes for all items, except for cups which will have an extended transition period to October 1, 2022 to allow time to source alternatives.

In June, the State Government fast-tracked its Plan for Plastics by up to four years, leading to a range of single-use plastics being phased out from January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023.

Stage two of the Plan for Plastics will begin on January 1, 2023 and will include bans on plastic barrier/produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, microbeads, oxo-degradable plastics, bowl and cup lids, polystyrene cups and coffee cups.

"It is time for Western Australia to take the next step towards a single-use plastic-free future," Environment Minister Reece Whitby said.

"Our State has a strong track record on plastics and was named the top jurisdiction in Australia for its work on plastics by WWF Australia for two years in a row."

More information about Western Australia's Plan for Plastics can be found at https://www.wa.gov.au