Balloons listed in next phase of Queensland’s bans on single-use plastics

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Mass balloon releases, plastic-stemmed cotton buds and polystyrene packing peanuts will be punted next year, as the state government moves ahead with its five-year roadmap to phase out single-use plastics.

The sunshine state will also ban plastic microbeads, while rules around plastic shopping bags will be expanded following the phasing out of single-use bags.

Under the changes, all plastic bags will be tested for reusability and whether they can be recycled.

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Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the roadmap is in response to survey results showing 91 per cent of Queenslanders backed further plastic bans.

“Single-use plastics are problematic, and Queenslanders have made it clear they want to give more of them the punt,” she said.

“They don’t breakdown, they fill up our dumps and they kill wildlife.”

The changes will come into effect next September.

Supermarkets are on notice for further bans.

Expanded polystyrene trays, single-use plastic fruit and vegetable bags, and bread bag clips are in the following round, scheduled for September 2024.

Plastic drinking cups and non-biodegradable plastic food wraps are proposed to be prohibited at the same time.

The government has also launched an innovation challenge with a view to banning plastic coffee cups and lids.

“It’s great to see so many businesses already taking voluntary measures and going beyond our bans, and it is time to support those voluntary commitments and strengthen our actions in the fight against plastic pollution,” Minister Scanlon said.

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The Palaszczuk Government phased out single-use lightweight shopping bags in 2018 and last year banned products like straws, stirrers, plastic cutlery and plates.

These latest changes have been announced to coincide with Plastic Free July.

You can view the proposed five-year roadmap here.