To reduce plastic pollution, Victoria is banning problematic single-use plastics from sale or supply from 1 February 2023. Victorian businesses are encouraged to start preparing for the ban now to help ease the transition.

What will be banned?

The ban includes single-use plastic:

• drinking straws
• cutlery (knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, sporks, splades, food picks and sporks)
• plates
• drink-stirrers and sticks
• cotton bud sticks
• expanded polystyrene food and drink containers, including plates, cups, bowls, clam shells, covers and lids

The ban proposes that conventional, degradable and compostable plastics (including bioplastic and oxo-degradable materials) will be banned. Compostable plastics can still harm wildlife if they are littered and often require processing at a specialised compost facility to break down.

What can businesses do to prepare?

Businesses can start preparing for the ban now by:

• running down stocks of items to be banned
• avoiding single-use plastic items
• choosing reusable alternatives such as metal, wood, bamboo or paper

Sustainability Victoria has resources and alternatives to plastic for businesses.

The Victorian Government has already phased these items out of use by government departments and agencies across the public service. Publicly run organisations such as schools and hospitals will be included in the statewide ban in effect from 1 February 2023.

How will the ban take effect?

The ban will be enacted by regulations. The Victorian Government sought feedback on the draft regulations and Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) earlier in the year, with consultation closing 15 May 2022.

The feedback summary will be available 30 August 2022 and regulations finalised 30 September 2022.

Visit vic.gov.au to learn more about the single-use plastics ban.