Why the ban was introduced
The impacts of plastic pollution on our environment and especially on our marine life are a very real concern to the Queensland Government and the community.
It is estimated that close to one billion single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags have been used in Queensland each year.
While the majority of these bags end up in landfill, around 16 million plastic shopping bags end up in the environment in Queensland each year. This is equivalent in weight to 96 small cars.
When plastic shopping bags get into waterways and the marine environment, animals such as sea turtles and sea birds can swallow or become entangled in them.
As well as their environmental impacts, littered plastic shopping bags are unsightly, can clog up infrastructure, and are difficult and costly to clean up.
The Queensland Government has taken action to protect our unique environment and wildlife through the introduction of a ban on the supply of single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags on 1 July 2018, and a container refund scheme on 1 November 2018.
Watch the video below to learn more about the plastic bag ban story.
Tackling plastic pollution one step at a time
As well as the plastic shopping bag ban and the introduction of a container refund scheme, the Queensland Government is developing a plan to identify and prioritise actions, partnerships and timeframes to reduce plastic pollution in our state. The Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan will link with existing plans and programs at the state and national level.
The Queensland Government also continues to target litterers and needs the community’s support. If you see someone littering from a vehicle or vessel please report it to the department via our online reporting page.
We all love Queensland, let’s keep it clean.