There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

 

[lozat54]

There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

Pretty sure must of us have nothing to be worried about here- do you supply, sell it distribute any if these?!?!

 

[ElleJay]

I agree with most of these, but cotton buds? My cotton buds don't contain plastic. I know some have a plastic stick, but many are cardboard.

 

[relljube]

I imagine they can make paper out of grass (bamboo) like most other things...

Hello! Tree clearing to plant the bamboo - damned if you use petroleum based plastics or wood/tree based paper , worse still - land clearing to grow cotton - hell - how about we just hold our hands out to collect loose items in them - oh forgot - germ spreaders and you can't collect the milk in them! The earth is doomed - doomed I say - doomed!!

 

[Ian1]

There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

Yes, I do think all government bodies right around Australia (and overseas too) should proactively be phasing out and banning the use of plastics. It’s ridiculous to suggest that such bans will be ‘too disruptive’ to businesses and individuals! How ever do you think we managed in the pre-plastic era?!!! I applaud any efforts to reduce waste, especially in the category of items that either break down slowly or don’t break down at all. I must say that caring for our Earth does seem to be more front-of-mind these days, where previously we’ve hardly ever given our environment a second thought. Well done for those who have been and are continuing to advocate for a change to our attitudes. We’ve only got one ‘home’ (planet): let’s look after it, before it’s too late!

 

[grays]

I hate to sound negative but I've travelled in Asia and I have seen the enormous seas of floating garbage and plastics in their waterways. And photographed it! Until this problem, and the mindset that goes with it, is addressed, nothing that we do in Australia will make much difference to the worldwide environmental problem represented by the use of plastics.

This is exactly the same as our Government push to ban fossil fuels for electricty generation!

The level of fines are over the top, just like the pandemic fines that ae now being forgiven, because people failed to pay them!

Some of the goods being banned are bordering the 'petty' - is it just another raft ofpenalties to employ more public servants to police the new law breakers?

 

[terri]

I remember when supermarkets used paper bags, but apparently why we then went to plastic was because of the number of trees that had to be cut down to supply these.

Now plastic is being banned.

I think they should continue to use plastic but revaluate how it is use

use paper bags for fruit n veg.

It's going to be impossible to completely do away with all plastic.

If I go into store I take my canvas bags but as I use online shopping 95% then they use plastic bags which I have an overflow of.
As for online delivery They need to change the use of plastic bags which cost me around $2 each time and some bags only have one or two items in it

A friend of mine owns a popular donut shop and was saying they can use carry plastic bags to pack the boxes of donuts in for those who need a carry bag but they have to be so thick so they can be re-used. Similar to coles bags.

What she said makes her mad is shops are charging 15c a bag when infact the cost is only 2c to shops as they buy in bulk.

She will not be charging her customers and she said neither should other shops.

Op shops may take your excess bags, Suzanne Rose. THey are always short of them.

 

[peteloo]

There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

Stopping stores from issuing plastic shopping bags is just “passing the buck” of bin bag costs to the people who recycled those shopping bags as bin bags.

The focus should be on bio-degradable plastics, especially if plastic beads are used in some facial cleansers. Bio-degradable beads should count for this.

 

[Rozzie60]

How is it that millions of residents are going to be fined? Residents aren’t selling or distributing these items, we are merely consumers.

 

[peteloo]

How is it that millions of residents are going to be fined? Residents aren’t selling or distributing these items, we are merely consumers.

It’s more about the government’s focus on actions related to global warming- why penalise in this way when there are other more significant ways to reduce plastic use? Any means of fines are their way to recover revenue after spending on welfare or tax deductions.

 

[MaggieOs]

There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

I think the ban on single use plastic items is a great idea, but I do wonder what they will be replaced with - if it is wooden products, how many more trees will we lose in that process, wooden stirrers, paper bags, cardboard cups, etc. Food for thought.

 

[Lynette Finnigan]

Well...that can only be seen as a good thing. An Indian couple invented disposable cutlery made out of chickpeas...at the end of your meal, you can even eat them if you wish....so why isn't that, and ideas like it, taken up immediately all around the world... when a great non-polluting idea comes along, we should embrace it immediately!

 

[Ricci]

Well...that can only be seen as a good thing. An Indian couple invented disposable cutlery made out of chickpeas...at the end of your meal, you can even eat them if you wish....so why isn't that, and ideas like it, taken up immediately all around the world... when a great non-polluting idea comes along, we should embrace it immediately!

I read something about this I'm sure. However, you can't win as I recently read an article about the droughts worldwide and how certain crops would have to be stopped as they use too much water, chickpeas was one of the crops.

 

[Gerada]

There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

 

[Gerada]

So now I have to dump all my plastic plates, cutlery & containers, that I've washed & reused for years! I've always bought good quality plastic wear & reuse. And I always put all my soft rubbish plastic products in the Coles/Woolies recycling bin at shops. Old Batteries go there as well. I hardly have use for the Red Bin, Green Bin. As I recycle everything. It's not hard to be efficient

 

[freedy50]

I have a supply of plastic plates, bowls, cups, glasses etc, which I use on picnics, BBQs and family parties. It is better to use these each time than using glassware which could be dangerous if smashed or cracked. China plates etc. are far too heavy to carry especially as I am elderly, have had partial lung removal from cancer, suffer respiratory and back problems and am waiting for a shoulder reconstruction surgery. I agree with removing single use plastics but paper bags are not the complete answer as they do not help the environment due to the removal of precious trees.

That's no problem. That's what I do as well for picnics. It's not as if you're just going to use it and throw it away after.

 

[Macarj]

Stop these plastics from being produced.

I love people who are logical, why put it on consumers stop companies from making plastic bags and the like

 

[Katiej]

Does this include kitchen bin liners ? In an upstairs unit, can’t bury food scraps-though a few go to the pot plants- do I go back to getting newspapers to wrap everything? Some days not well enough to go to outside bins

 

[Jakepuss]

There’s no denying that plastic pollution is a major problem. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our oceans, where it harms marine life and pollutes the water. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

The banning of single-use plastic has been a topic of debate among legislators for years. Some argue that it’s a necessary step to reduce pollution, while others claim that it would be too disruptive to businesses and consumers.

In a recent law enacted by the NSW government, residents may soon face significant fines of up to $11,000 for distributing or transporting single-use plastic products.

According to the NSW government, the phase-out, which will see the scrapping of everyday plastic items from stores and households starting on November 1, will prevent roughly 2.7 billion pieces of litter from entering the state's waterways and environment over the next 20 years.

The new list of vetoed items as per the government's Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act, passed in November last year, extends to plastics considered biodegradable or compostable.

The NSW government imposed a ban on single-use plastics in November last year. Credit: news.com.au.​

The following items are banned from NSW:

• Single-use plastic straws
• Coffee stirrers
• Cutlery
• Plates
• Bowls
• Cotton buds
• Expanded polystyrene food service items
• Plastic microbead-containing rinse-off personal care products, such as some face cleansers, shampoos, and toothpaste.

Individuals who supply, sell, or distribute any of the prohibited commodities face a maximum court fine of 100 units ($11,000), while businesses that do so face a maximum fine of 500 units ($55,000).

If a manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, or distribution company is discovered distributing plastic items included in the list, the penalties are doubled. Individuals may be fined $22,000 and groups up to $110,000.

A Stop Notice will also be given to those who are discovered to be supplying prohibited materials. $55,000 per person or $275,000 per business may be fined for disregarding the stop notice.

If you are using medical supplies that are made of single-use plastics, don't fret. People with a disability or who have a medical necessity for such items are given special consideration.

Businesses that still sell prohibited plastic products could risk a $275,000 penalty. Credit: news.com.au.​

Additionally, some items are exempted from the ban:

• Serving utensils e.g. salad servers or tongs
• Food and beverage packaging seals
• Items included within or attached to that packaging, through a machine-automated process (such as a straw attached to a juice box or a spoon included with a yogurt).

The most recent restriction comes after the NSW government removed all lightweight plastic bags from the entire state in June of this year.

NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said: 'Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.'

'Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.'

The environment is important. It's our life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It's also the foundation of our economy and our way of life.

That's why it's so important that we have laws that protect the environment. These laws help us prevent pollution, conserve our natural resources, and safeguard our health.

Do you think other governments should follow suit with the NSW government's latest move? Better yet, what do you think about the total ban on single-use plastic? Share your insights with us in the comments below!

They're getting carried away with this! Fines are useless as they're far too much. Many people will commit suicide rather than put themselves into misery.
Then the dogooders will complain and wonder why so many people are committing hari kari. Wake up?
Where is a pensioner getting 11k from? Hah,certainly not from me.

 

[BabsL]

I remember when supermarkets used paper bags, but apparently why we then went to plastic was because of the number of trees that had to be cut down to supply these.

Now plastic is being banned.

I think they should continue to use plastic but revaluate how it is use

use paper bags for fruit n veg.

It's going to be impossible to completely do away with all plastic.

If I go into store I take my canvas bags but as I use online shopping 95% then they use plastic bags which I have an overflow of.
As for online delivery They need to change the use of plastic bags which cost me around $2 each time and some bags only have one or two items in it

A friend of mine owns a popular donut shop and was saying they can use carry plastic bags to pack the boxes of donuts in for those who need a carry bag but they have to be so thick so they can be re-used. Similar to coles bags.

What she said makes her mad is shops are charging 15c a bag when infact the cost is only 2c to shops as they buy in bulk.

She will not be charging her customers and she said neither should other shops.

Cardboard boxes were used before the big brown paper bags. Shop owners were happy for customers to use their empty boxes, which fitted well into the car and were easy to carry.

 

[BabsL]

Does this include kitchen bin liners ? In an upstairs unit, can’t bury food scraps-though a few go to the pot plants- do I go back to getting newspapers to wrap everything? Some days not well enough to go to outside bins

Bring back the incinerator! Blocks of flats often had incinerator shutes - but people kept jamming them with big boxes or stupid things like bags of clothes, or broken vacuum cleaners! There were many fires when the chimney lost its guard to bits of burning paper would float up and out across the sky - easy to set someone’s house on fire, or yr own building!
The greenies demanded incinerators be decommissioned in late 1980s