THE end is near for single use plastics, including bags, straws, cotton buds, plates, bowls and cutlery, after the Plastics and Circular Economy Act 2021 passed NSW Parliament on 16 November 2021.

Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean said plastic packaging and single-use plastics make up 60 per cent of litter across the state, with single-use plastics to be phased out from June next year. 

“Only 10 per cent of plastics in New South Wales are recycled, with the rest ending up in landfill, or worse, littering our streets, dumped in our parks and washing up in our waterways,” Mr Kean said. 

“The NSW Government is spending $356 million over the next five years to deliver the NSW Plastics Action Plan and the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041. This will help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics litter, while encouraging the development of new and innovative products. 

For more information on the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics