Why the government is banning single-use plastics
Back in 2019, the government launched the first phase of a plan to eradicate single-use plastic in New Zealand, introducing a ban on plastic shopping bags. The ban has kept one billion plastic bags out of our environment, and in July this year, a second phase of the strategy began, this time focused on removing plastic tableware, produce bags and straws from the environment. From July 1, the sale and production of single-use plastic tableware such as cups, plates and cutlery is banned, as well as the plastic produce bags you'd normally find in the supermarket. Plastic labels on fruits and vegetables will also become a thing of the past. Single-use plastic straws are also banned from July, with exemptions for people with disabilities or medical needs. The changes come as part of wider efforts to phase out hard-to-recycle plastics. Banning their use will help significantly reduce the amount of plastic in the environment. Plastic is a significant problem for Aotearoa New Zealand's environment. Plastics find their way to landfills, moana and whenua. Each New Zealander sends nearly 60 kilograms of plastic to landfills each year on average. Most of this is produced from fossil fuels, consuming around 4% to 8% of overall oil production adding to the environmental strain on our planet. The Government's plan to eliminate single-use plastics from shops, takeaways and events is designed to protect the environment for future generations, explains Shaun Lewis, director for waste and resource and efficiency at the Ministry for the Environment. "Plastic is a useful material, but we've overused it. We don't manage it well during its lifecycle. It ends up contaminating our environment and waterways, or it ends up in landfills where it lasts forever." "Items like plastic produce bags are a hazard for marine life, and plastics can break down and find their way into the food chain," Lewis adds. "There's evidence that there are plastic particles in the air we breathe, in the food we eat, and in our soil." According to Lewis, the plastic bag ban of 2019 has had a significant impact on our waste levels, and the changes from this month are the next step on the journey. "You hear from beach cleanup teams that they're no longer seeing plastic bags wash up on the shore, which is a really positive thing. We've taken a billion plastic bags out of the system already." With the new changes, New Zealand has become one of the first countries in the world to ban plastic produce bags. While plastic straws are banned, people who rely on them for medical reasons will still be able to access them in stores. "While plastic straws won't be on display, people will be able to ask for them at the counter if they need them," Lewis explains. New Zealanders will be encouraged to choose reusable alternatives to plastic products wherever possible to lower their impact. "We'd like to see a shift to reusable materials, and that's the direction we are moving toward," Lewis adds. Following the changes from July 1, shops will also offer customers alternatives to plastic products, including reusable produce bags. Alternatives to plastic tableware and straws made from bamboo or stainless steel are readily available. The latest bans are the second step in a three-phase plan to eliminate New Zealand's single-use plastic. From the middle of next year, PVC and polystyrene food and drink packaging will be banned, with further details expected next year. By changing our behaviour, New Zealanders can make a real difference to help reduce environmental pollution, Lewis says. "It's all about the impact of plastics," he says. "They escape into our environment, and they're also a fossil fuel-based product, so we're also reducing the use of fossil fuels that enter our environment and landfills." "With the first plastic shopping bag ban, we saw a real willingness from New Zealanders to take action and do something tangible" "We've noticed quite an awareness shift about the impact of plastic on our environment in recent years," Lewis adds. "There's a growing willingness to do more." Head to environment.govt.nz/plastics to find out more about the single-use plastic ban, the next steps, and how you can prepare for the changes. Remember to use reusable alternatives to single-use products wherever possible. Sponsored content