Waste plastic action as part of National Recycling Week

The next stage of the NSW Government's just announced Plastics Plan 2.0 will target unnecessary and hard-to-recycle plastic, as recommended by the UNSW SMaRT Centre in its initial submission, as part of National Recycling Week this week.

The UNSW SMaRT Centre strongly supports the NSW Government's announcement which builds on waste and recycling strategies and plans, many of which SMaRT has been consulting on over recent years.

Get involved in National Recycling Week

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said: “Microplastics are entering our bodies and plastic is polluting our environment and oceans, killing our wildlife.

"NSW is facing a waste crisis. Without action, Greater Sydney could run out of landfill space by 2030, putting growing pressure on households, councils and businesses. If we don’t act soon, it’s predicted that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish."

SMaRT microplastics work

The next stage of the NSW Plastics Plan will target unnecessary and hard-to-recycle plastic products. It gives business and industry time to transition while helping to reduce waste and landfill demand.

The phase-in will be managed responsibly and in stages to allow business to adjust and find practical alternatives.

The changes will also encourage new investment in recycling infrastructure and reusable products, with the Government working closely with industry to support the transition and minimise disruption.

The NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 actions include:

• phase out plastic bread tags and pizza savers from late 2027;
• phase out non-compostable plastic fruit and vegetable stickers by 2030;
• introduce tethered lids (meaning the cap or lid on a plastic bottle must remain attached to the bottle itself, even after it’s opened) for plastic bottles by 2030;
• require takeaway food service businesses to accept reusable cups by 2028 and large food service businesses to provide reusable cup options by 2030;
• phase out small condiment containers such as soy sauce fish bottles by 2030 and similar single-use packaging that cannot be recycled, in favour of recyclable options;
• require the redesign of takeaway food containers, such as plastic bowls with lids, bento boxes and sushi trays, to ensure they can be recycled safely;
• regulate harmful chemical additives in plastic food and beverage packaging to prevent toxins entering soil, water and the food chain;
• ban lighter-than-air (helium) balloon releases, in line with other states.

See two of SMaRT's submissions to the NSW Government: