Single-use plastic ban to kick in from March
South Australia’s ban on single-use plastics will start on 1 March 2021 with the Marshall Liberal Government launching an education campaign to help businesses and the public prepare for the changes.
In September South Australia became the first state in the nation to pass legislation to ban the sale, supply and distribution of single-use plastic products such as straws, cutlery and beverage stirrers.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs today announced the start date during a visit to House of Health Collective - one of the first South Australian businesses to officially go single-use plastic free.
Minister Speirs also launched the Replace the Waste campaign to help businesses and the public learn more about the historic legislation.
“South Australia is leading the way nationally with our action on single-use plastics and the ban will start from 1 March 2021,” Minister Speirs said.
“Our legislation at first bans single-use plastic items like straws, cutlery and beverage stirrers and will expand to include other items such as polystyrene cups, bowls and plates in early 2022. There is also a framework for adding more items in the future.
“There has been an overwhelming call from the community for urgent action on single-use plastic products since I released the Turning the Tide discussion paper in 2019.
“Single-use plastic products are designed to be used a limited number of times, often away from home, and thrown away, usually resulting in litter, waste and harm to wildlife, including marine life.
“I congratulate businesses such as House of Health Collective who are already voluntarily making changes ahead of 1 March 2021.
“Businesses are urged to prepare now by deleting these items from inventories, using up existing stocks, ordering alternatives, having signage in place and training staff.
“The replacethewaste.sa.gov.au website is the go-to place for businesses to get information, tips, tools, Point of Sale materials or other assistance to meet the March 1, 2021 deadline.
“Our legislation has been developed with the help of our Single-Use Plastics Taskforce which has representation from 15 different organisations, including people living with a disability.
“Through this taskforce we’ve developed an approach that balances the benefit to the environment while minimising impact for businesses and recognising the needs of people who rely on single-use plastic straws to safely consume beverages and food.
“There will be direct engagement across metropolitan and regional South Australia from early January to help South Australians get ready for the change and a handy hotline has also been established to help businesses, cafés and restaurants with the transition.”
House of Health Collective was the first business in the CBD to achieve ‘Plastic Free Champion’ status earlier this year and co-owners Chester & Robert Frank and Alex & Ivan Oulianoff have now expanded their offerings with the opening of Sustainable Co Eco Store today.
“For the past 30 years our business has been championing sustainability and we are big supporters of the push towards reducing single-use plastics in our environment, a move our business made well in advance of this legislated ban,” said co-owner Chester Frank.
“We pride ourselves on being a sustainable and environmentally-friendly business and the response from our customers since going plastic free has been amazing,” said co-owner Robert Frank.
“Our business prides itself on providing accessibility for our customers to products that allow them to tread more lightly in an environmental sense. This expansion today provides greater access to our customer community of an ever-expanding range of sustainable products,” said co-owner Ivan Oulianoff.
‘We appreciate the support from our customers and suppliers over the years that have provided us the opportunity to expand our range today.”