The Queensland government will move to ban plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers and plates in a bid to stem the destructive effects of plastic on marine life and waterways. The government introduced legislation on Wednesday that would ban the single-use items, making Queensland the second state after South Australia to put such a proposal before parliament. If passed, the earliest date the ban would commence would be 1 July 2021, to give businesses, schools and other facilities time to plan for the changes.
The laws include exemptions for people with disabilities or medical requirements to allow outlets such as pharmacies, and schools and care facilities to make plastic straws available to people who need them. The legislation also allows for the ban to be extended to items such as coffee cups, polystyrene cups, takeaway containers and heavyweight plastic bags after public consultation. “That’s an overwhelming statement from communities wanting to find a positive solution to reducing plastic waste and protecting our environment,” the state’s environment minister, Leeanne Enoch, said.
In response to the introduction of the legislation on Wednesday, WWF Australia ranked Queensland No 1 on a new single-use plastics scorecard comparing policies in Australian states and territories. The ACT and South Australia both ranked second, with Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory equal last. “It’s wonderful to see the sunshine state leading the way to phase out some of the most littered plastics on our beautiful beaches,” WWF Australia’s Katinka Day said.
Source: Guardian
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