Chris Whiting MP said Queenslanders need to get ready for the start of the single use plastics (SUP) ban which is a month away.  

From 1 September 2021 single-use plastic straws, stirrers, plates, bowls, cutlery, and expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers and cups are banned in Queensland

“Half of all plastic produced in the world is designed to be used only once and it is then thrown away,” said Chris Whiting MP.

“This is a huge contributor to the 300 million tonnes of plastic waste created every year.

“It is almost equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.

“The Queensland Government is taking action to fight plastic waste and pollution, starting with a ban on some single-use plastic items."

All Queensland businesses and not-for-profit organisations will be required to stop supplying banned single-use plastic items after the ban begins, including supermarkets, cafes, hotels and takeaway food shops.

“This includes single-use plastic items such as straws, stirrers, plates and bowls including single-use expanded polystyrene plates, cutlery, and expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers and cups,” said Chris Whiting MP.

Single-use plastic items not included in the ban:

• straws and cutlery attached to a shelf-ready, pre-packaged product like a juice box with an attached plastic straw or a yoghurt with an attached plastic spoon
• other single-use plastic takeaway food containers including sushi containers, triangle sandwich containers, food containers with a plastic window and bowls with lids
• serving platters and trays
• foam or plastic trays such as meat and packaged fruit and vegetable trays

Some businesses are exempt from the ban because Queenslanders with disability or healthcare needs may still need to access banned items:

• clinics or facilities that provide care to persons with a disability or health needs
• hospitals
• dental clinics
• medical clinics
• pharmacies
• aged care facilities
• medical suppliers.