The ACT will be the second jurisdiction in Australia to commence a ban on selected single-use plastics, with the ban of the sale and supply of single-use plastic cutlery, drink stirrers and expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers to come into effect on 1 July 2021.

While many local businesses are already making the switch and using alternatives to these plastic items, the legislation will make it a legal requirement. For more information and resources please visit the City Services website.

Thank you to everyone who provided their feedback on phasing out single-use plastics, how we can best reduce our plastic waste and improve environmental outcomes.

Between April and July 2019, the ACT Government consulted with the community via the Phasing out single-use plastics discussion paper. At the end of the consultation period, we had registered more than 3,300 interactions, including survey responses, submissions, YourSay comments and attendance at several community and business information sessions. You can read the engagement report and some of the submissions in the Document Library.

Your feedback also informed development of the exposure draft Plastic Reduction Bill 2020. Released in August 2020, submissions received on the exposure draft, and the Government response, are also available in the Document Library.