The ACT is one of the first Australian jurisdictions to pass laws to ban certain single-use plastics. The Plastic Reduction Act 2021 which came into effect 1 July 2021 bans the sale, supply or distribution of single-use plastic cutlery, plastic beverage stirrers and expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers.

From 1 July 2022, the ACT Government is proposing an additional ban on the following items:

• single-use plastic straws (with exemptions for those who need them)
• single-use plastic fruit and vegetable “barrier bags”
• cotton buds with plastic sticks
• all oxo-degradable plastic products such as degradable plastic bags and degradable dog waste bags. These have additives that enable the plastic to break down into tiny fragments (microplastics) which do not completely decompose and are harmful to the environment.

Businesses, community organisations and individuals were invited to provide feedback on these proposed Tranche 2 items between 14 October 2021 and 12 January 2022. The Listening Report summarising what we heard can be viewed here.

Further information about the ACT's single-use plastics ban can be viewed in the Next Steps Policy 2021.

The ACT Government thanks Canberra businesses and community groups for making this important transition away from single-use plastics and towards more sustainable alternatives.

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On 1 July 2021, the ACT Government introduced the Plastic Reduction Act 2021 banning the sale, supply and distribution of:

• single-use plastic cutlery
• single-use plastic drink stirrers
• expanded polystyrene takeaway containers.

From 1 July 2022, the ACT Government is proposing an additional ban on the following items:

• single-use plastic straws (with exemptions for those who need them)
• single-use plastic fruit and vegetable “barrier bags”
• cotton buds with plastic sticks
• all oxo-degradable plastic products such as degradable plastic bags and degradable plastic tarps. These have additives that enable the plastic to break down into tiny fragments (microplastics) which do not completely decompose and are harmful to the environment.

To inform the next phase of the single-use plastics ban.