Get your reusable bags ready because the NSW Government is set to phase out single-use lightweight bags, cotton buds, straws, and stirrers by 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Single-use lightweight bags, cotton buds, straws, and stirrers will be phased out whilst green bins for food and organic waste will be brought in and rolled out across NSW under a new, comprehensive plastics plan and waste strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than $356 million will be invested into the plan over the next five years, with lightweight bags, cotton buds, straws, and stirrers the first to go over the next 12 months when legislation is passed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other items such as heavyweight bags (like the ones available from purchase at Coles, Woolies and Aldi), plastic cups, bowls and plates will be reviewed in three years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the NSW Government will roll out a statewide education campaign to provide households with a clear understanding of the new waste programs set to be introduced to teach people how to properly dispose of their food and organic waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the plan, each NSW household will have access to a separate bin for their food and organic waste for the first time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said residents must reduce the plastics and waste ending up in the environment as we\u2019re on track to see more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe single-use items we are phasing-out will stop an estimated 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from ending up in our environment and waterways over the next 20 years,\u201d Mr Kean said,\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t keep sending our scraps to languish in landfill when there are huge opportunities to turn our trash into treasure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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