The first phase of Western Australia's plastics program was completed on October 1, 2022, officially banning 10 items such as single-use plastic cups. These bans will save 430 million single-use plastic cups from landfill or garbage in Western Australia each year, with cold cups accounting for more than 40 percent of the total.
The state is currently working on a transition schedule for products banned in the second phase of the program, including single-use plastic coffee cups, with the phaseout set to begin in February 2023. The state says certified compostable cups and lids are excluded from the ban and are already widely used by businesses. Western Australia's Environment Minister Reece Whitby says many businesses have already made the transition.
Overall, these bans are expected to eliminate a large number of single-use plastics each year, including 300 million plastic straws, 50 million pieces of plastic cutlery and more than 110 million thick plastic shopping bags.
Those who need single-use plastic items, such as those in the disability, elder care and health sectors, will be assured of a continuous supply, as businesses can use compostable disposable options such as lids and cups.
Fast food chain McDonald's has replaced about 17.5 million plastic cold drink cups and lids in McCoffee's across the state, a first for Australia, reducing the circulation of about 140 tons of plastic each year.
Western Australia's plastics program.
On June 13, 2021, the State Government announced that it is accelerating the implementation of the Western Australian Plastics Program.
The plan includes the introduction of regulations to ban single-use plastic products in two phases. The first phase (short-term action) introduces regulations on January 1, 2022, and the second phase (medium-term action) will take effect on January 1, 2023.
Phase I
The first phase of regulations banning single-use plastics or disposable items goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and includes.
Plates, uncovered bowls, knives, beverage stirrers, straws, cups, thick plastic bags, expanded polystyrene (EPS) take-out food containers, and helium balloon releases.
Phase 1 regulations will begin on July 1, 2022, and all programs except the cup will begin on October 1, 2022, in order to provide time for everyone to adapt.
Phase II
Ban the use of single-use plastics or disposable items in Phase 2 by the end of 2022.
Expanded polystyrene packaging, oxo-degradable plastics (plastics designed to break down into pieces more quickly under certain conditions), barrier/produce bags, expanded polystyrene cups, coffee cups and lids, cups; lids for bowls and take-out food containers, cotton swabs with plastic shafts, microbeads
The plastics program also includes actions that should be considered to reduce plastic on pre-packaged fruits and vegetables, take-out food and beverage containers and plastic packaging.
