What is the Tasmanian Government doing?
In 2021, the Tasmanian Government committed to phasing out the sale and supply of certain single-use plastics and materials in 2025, along with all other states and territories. This commitment includes the following items:
Lightweight shopping bags (banned in Tasmania since 2013)
Degradable plastics
Plastic straws
Plastic utensils and stirrers
Plastic bowls and plates
EPS consumer containers
EPS consumer goods packaging
Microbeads in personal care products
The Tasmanian Government allocated $1 million over four years for the drafting of legislation and development of a comprehensive implementation plan, which includes an allocation of $100,000 to support businesses through the transition and assist them address the impacts of problematic single-use plastics in Tasmania.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tasmania) will consult with the community, businesses, impacted sectors and industry on the approach to implementing such a ban, and will ensure Tasmanians are supported both before and after the phase out of single-use plastics across the State.
What are single-use plastics?
Plastic has many attractive qualities: it is low-cost, lightweight, durable and versatile.
However, the exponential growth of plastic use has put existing waste management infrastructure under increasing pressure, with single-use plastics now a globally significant pollutant in the environment posing a significant risk to marine and terrestrial life.
Did you know?
Single use plastics make up a third of the litter we see in our environment
They are difficult and costly to clean up and are a poor use of our resources
They are often used for only a few minutes and generate a significant amount of waste that is difficult for Tasmanian and interstate waste operators to recycle
Single use plastics pollute ecosystems – harming both marine and terrestrial wildlife
Single use plastics contaminate our food and water and also have the potential to impact human health
What can I do to prepare?
In preparation for a phase out on the sale and supply of certain single-use plastic products and materials in Tasmania, you can start by choosing to reduce your consumption of unnecessary plastics and consider using reusable drink bottles, coffee cups, shopping bags and straws.
Be part of the solution:
Challenge yourself to using a reuseable coffee cup or bring a lunch container to your favourite takeaway café
Start conversations with your friends and family about how you can reduce you use of plastic
Think about what your food, sweets and drinks are packaged in, and whether there are alternative options