Single-Use Plastics Banned in NSW From 1 November 2022
Scouts love The Great Outdoors and want to protect Mother Nature. So, let’s get behind this great initiative to put an end to single-use plastics. And in doing so, we’ll help stop 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next two decades!
On 16 November 2021, the NSW Government passed the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021. This legislation delivers on the government’s commitment to ban certain problematic plastics, such as single-use plastics and address the problem of plastic waste.
From Tuesday 1 November 2022, single-use plastics are banned. Single-use plastic bags were prohibited in NSW in June 2022.
Below are what is specifically banned and what we can replace them with.
❌ Banned
- Single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery
- Single-use plastic plates, bowls, and cotton buds
- Polystyrene foodware (such as clamshell containers, cups, plates and bowls)
- Rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.
✔️ Start Using
- Metal straws, wooden stirrers and bamboo cutlery
- Paper plates, paper bowls, paper cups and reusable silicone cotton buds
- Re-usable containers such as glass or metal, keep cups, metal plates and bowls.
So basically, these items cannot be disposed of at Scouts owned properties.
This includes meetings at Halls, Scout camps, Activity Centres - or anywhere else you may be eating or drinking. Instead, please use environmentally-friendly substitutes. If you are already using single-use plastic for something like arts & craft, and are simply washing and re-using those items, keep doing so! As long as these items aren't disposed of at Scout Halls and camps.
In particular, when packing for events at Scout camps or Activity Centres, do not bring any single-use plastics. If it ends up in a bin there, the NSW government can issue hefty fines! Be sure to spread the word among parents and guardians to do the right thing.
If you have a large amount of plastic that you're looking to get rid of, the "Great Plastic Rescue" is a great way to give banned, unused single-use plastic a new life. Click here to learn more and to register.
Download these handy resources for your Scout Hall, and to include in your communications with Group members. The signage can be used on/around bins to remind people not to dispose of plastic items.
Resources
