Alternatives avoid waste

Learn about some of the available alternatives to single-use items













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 From March 1, 2022
expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and clamshell containers
were prohibited from sale, supply or distribution in South Australia.
Oxo-degradable plastic products were also be prohibited from
production, manufacture, supply and sale in the state. 

South Australia’s Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020 is the first legislation of its kind in Australia.

It’s a positive step towards avoiding waste and reducing the harm caused to our wildlife, including marine life, through litter and pollution. 

South Australians are committed to protecting the environment. We will lead the rest of the country by avoiding and replacing waste with reusable or recyclable alternatives to ensure the best environmental outcome for our ‘clean and green’ state. 

This is something we can all get behind and be proud of. 

From March 1, 2021

Single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers were prohibited from sale, supply or distribution in South Australia including bioplastic alternatives. These single-use items can be replaced with reusable and plastic-free compostable alternatives. Exemptions  apply for single-use plastic straws.

From March 1, 2022

Expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and clamshell containers were also be prohibited from sale, supply or distribution in South Australia. 

Oxo-degradable plastic products were prohibited from production, manufacture, supply and sale in the state. 

Oxo-degradable plastic products have additives which enable the plastic to break down into tiny fragments (‘microplastics’) which do not completely decompose.

What you need to know

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Half all plastic used once

and then thrown away.

1 million plastic drink bottles

are purchased every minute

700,000 straws daily in SA

Australians use around 10 million straws a day, equating to 700,000 per day in South Australia

Packaging equals 26%

of the total volume of plastics used globally.

Up to 5 trillion

single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year

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