The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania is currently consulting on a phase out of problematic and single-use plastic items and materials and is seeking comment on the Phasing out Problematic Single-Use Plastics in Tasmania Discussion Paper.
Alongside all Australian states and territories, the Tasmanian Government is committed to addressing the impacts of single-use plastics at the source by phasing out of certain single-use plastic items and materials considered problematic and/or unnecessary by design. This includes a range of single-use items made from problematic plastic materials such as utensils, food and drinkware, bags and produce items, cosmetics, party goods and confectionary and expanded polystyrene consumer goods packaging.
With $1 million over four years allocated to achieve this commitment, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania is preparing to draft legislation to phase out certain single-use plastics. This initial consultation seeks to better understand how restricting access to some single-use plastic items will impact Tasmanians, and how items should be phased out over the next few years to best support our community and businesses.
This Discussion Paper is the first step in a process to phase out the commercial sale and supply of specific single-use plastic items and materials in Tasmania.
To achieve the best outcomes for Tasmania in phasing out certain single‑use plastic items, the Tasmanian Government seeks to better understand:
- the impacts of a phase out for manufacturers, suppliers and businesses that sell and supply certain single‑use plastics;
- the impacts of a phase out for the community, particularly those who rely on single‑use plastic items as a part of daily life, such as those with certain disabilities and/or medical conditions;
- in what ways our community is already living more sustainably to reduce plastic waste;
- what support Tasmanians and businesses will need when phasing out single‑use plastics; and
- the alternative items or practices available to replace or avoid phased out single‑use plastic items.
We encourage your organisation to share the content in the table below with your members and community via your online platforms or network channels where possible. We hope to hear from as many Tasmanians as possible to help shape this important statewide initiative, as well as nationally impacted suppliers, manufacturers and other organisations.
The online survey is here.