Plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, and cotton buds — even if they are made of compostable plastics — are among the plastic items that will be banned in Victoria from February 1 under sweeping new laws designed to clean up the state.
But coffee cups and takeaway containers that are not made from expanded polystyrene are exempt from the new rules in an effort to keep the regulations “manageable and practical” for businesses, National Retail Association (NRA) policy manager Ebony Johnson said.
The Victorian government is partnering with the NRA to provide support to affected Victorian businesses and organisations — many of which are in the hospitality industry — with NRA representatives visiting some 3000 premises across the state.
In total, Johnson says, the NRA had engaged over 15,000 retailers, suppliers, peak bodies and other stakeholders in the past few months to warn them about the new rules, “and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” she adds.
The items that will be officially banned on February 1 include drinking straws; cutlery including knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, sporks, splades, food picks and sporks plates; drink stirrers and sticks; cotton bud sticks; and expanded polystyrene food service items and drink containers.
This includes expanded polystyrene plates, cups, bowls, clam shells and any cover or lid that is also made from expanded polystyrene — the term for the white foam material that crumbles into spongey beads when broken up.
Single-use plastics account for a third of all litter in the environment and are often only utilised for a few minutes before they are tossed out, sometimes contaminating recycling when they are disposed of incorrectly.
Interestingly, the February 1 ban also applies to degradable and compostable plastics, including bioplastic and oxo-degradable materials.
“Alternatives made from compostable or ‘plant-based’ plastics are included in the ban as they are no better for the environment than plastic when littered,” Johnson said.
“We encourage businesses to ask their supplier a few simple questions to ensure alternatives are compliant. For example, if it claims to be ‘plastic-free’ or ‘plant-based’, but it looks or feels like plastic, make sure you ask your supplier if it contains any plastic polymer.”
Despite appearing to be more environmentally friendly, the Victorian government adds that compostable plastics require processing at a specialised compost facility in order to break down, and many do not make it there.
The new ban does not apply to items like trays used for transporting meat, large gelato tubs, or anything of a similar nature where customers don’t eat directly out of the receptacle, the government advised.
In addition, those who need plastic straws for medical issues or for a disability will be exempt from the new ban, the Victorian government has advised, meaning cafes, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues can still have bendable plastic straws on site.
Customers do not need to present any evidence to obtain a straw in that situation, it added.
There are also exemptions for prisons and mental health facilities that may use plastic cutlery for safety purposes, as well as cotton buds used in scientific, medical or law enforcement scenarios.
The government is encouraging businesses to speak to their supplier about whether reusable plastic straws, plates, cutlery, drink stirrers and cotton buds are designed for multiple uses, and come with a one-year warranty. If these two requirements are not met, businesses can be fined.
“The best alternative is to avoid using or supplying that item by asking if it is something you need — for example, if you’re grabbing takeaway food to eat at home, you probably don’t need disposable cutlery,” Johnson said.
“Another alternative is to use reusable items. If most of your customers dine in-store, then reusable cutlery and plates are a great option to reduce waste.”
The state government says businesses should endeavour to return the soon-to-be-banned items to suppliers if they do not expect to use them before February 1, and halt all orders that may exceed this date.
Emma Elsworthy is Climate Editor at Crikey, SmartCompany, and The Mandarin, and writes daily morning newsletter the Worm. Before joining Crikey in 2021, Emma was a breaking news reporter in ABC’s Sydney newsroom, a journalist at BBC Australia, and a journalist in Fairfax Media’s regional network. She was part of a team awarded a Walkley for coverage of the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfire crisis, and won the Australian Press Council prize in 2013.
