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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment protection
  4. Waste and recycling
  5. Plastics
  6. Find out about plastics

Sidebar first - EN - Protection

  • Plastics
    • National Plastics Plan
      • Prevention
      • Recycling
      • Consumers
      • Plastics in our oceans and waterways
      • Research, Innovation and Data
      • National Plastics Summit
    • How you can reduce plastic waste
    • How business can reduce plastic waste
    • Find out about plastics
    • Australian Packaging Covenant
    • Microbeads

Find out about plastics

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Plastic bottles on production line

Phase out of problematic and single use plastics

Reducing waste overall is important, but particular resources and materials deserve extra attention, including plastics and packaging.

Plastic litter is one of the most insidious forms of pollution. Around 80% of marine litter is plastic. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight. We need to act now to identify and stop using the plastics that we can’t manage effectively. Read about problematic and single use plastics phase outs [link to phase out page]

Packaging

The Australian Government partners with other jurisdictions and industries to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging through the Australian Packaging Covenant. The Covenant requires companies to come up with ways to design more recyclable, compostable or reusable packaging.

  • Australian Packaging Covenant

Plastic microbeads

Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than 5mm and don’t degrade or dissolve in water.

  • Plastic microbeads

Marine debris including plastic pollution

Marine debris (or marine litter) is defined as any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material that is discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment (UN Environment Program, 2009).

  • Marine debris including plastic pollution

Pacific Ocean Litter Project

Australia is investing $16 million over six years (2019-2025) in the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) to help reduce the impacts of plastic pollution in the Pacific.

  • Pacific Ocean Litter Project

Plastic bags

Most state and territory governments have banned single-use lightweight plastic bags. States' actions on plastic bags are being supported by Australia's major supermarkets, which no longer offer single-use plastic bags.

State or territory Bans single-use plastic bags
Australian Capital Territory Yes
New South Wales None proposed
Northern Territory Yes
Queensland Yes
South Australia Yes
Tasmania Yes
Victoria Yes
Western Australia Yes

Container deposit schemes

States and territories are implementing container deposit schemes to address bottle waste and litter issues. By giving people money if they return containers to be recycled, these schemes help to increase recycling rates and keep plastic out of the environment and landfill.

State or territory Container deposit schemes
Australian Capital Territory Yes
New South Wales Yes
Northern Territory Yes
Queensland Yes
South Australia Yes
Tasmania Expected in early 2021
Victoria Yes
Western Australia Yes
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Last updated: 10 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.