It’s a movement that has already inspired more than 100 million participants in 190 countries to refuse to use single-use plastics during the month of July – and beyond.
In South Australia, the State Government is phasing out the use of single-use plastics over the next three years, enabling us all to reduce waste by avoiding single-use plastics and adopting more environmentally sustainable alternatives.
In September this year, the use and sale of plastic-stemmed cotton buds, single-use plastic bowls and plates, and plastic pizza savers will be phased out, ahead of a larger ban of items including plastic produce bags, thick supermarket plastic bags, coffee cups, plastic confetti and plastic bread tags in September 2024.
It follows an earlier ban in March 2021 of single-use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers, along with a ban in March 2022 of expanded polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and clamshell containers.
If you’d like to get involved in Plastic Free July – here are five ways you can take part in the challenge and help make a difference:
At work
- Take a bin audit to see if your workplace is recycling, composting or avoiding waste correctly.
At school
- Use reusable containers and beeswax wraps to keep lunch boxes plastic free.
For your business
- Implement procurement policies that look at ways to reduce single-use plastics or ask suppliers to provide more sustainable packaging alternatives.
At home
- Take a reusable coffee cup to your favourite café.
- Swap out liquid soap containers for more environmentally friendly bars of soap.
To take part in the challenge, visit Plastic Free July
To find out more about the State Government’s commitment to reducing single-use plastics, visit Replace the Waste
