Several household and common plastic items to be banned in NSW from next year
Plastic bread ties will be phased out and helium balloon releases will be banned in New South Wales as part of a massive plastics action plan implemented by the state government.
The initiative, called Plastics Plan 2.0, was announced today and will see several plastic products banned, as well as the establishment of a reuse-only precinct in Sydney CBD in late 2027.
The changes will commence next year and last until 2030 as the state government looks to reduce litter items by 60 per cent to move in line with other states and territories.
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Plastic bread tags are one of many items to be phased out in the next five years by the NSW government. Supplied
Several items people in NSW use regularly without even thinking will be phased out, including plastic bags with handles, plastic pizza savers, and even fruit and vegetable stickers.
Condiments will also be required to use recycled packaging, meaning the state will also phase out the soy sauce fish bottle like South Australia did back in September.
The release of helium balloons will also be banned from next year, bringing NSW in line with other states such as Victoria and Queensland.
This is because they often end up in waterways and endanger animals who swallow them or become caught in them.
Another controversial measure set to be implemented in 2030 is that lids to drinks below 1.25 litres will have to be tethered.
This means they will not detach even after the lid is opened, and is similar to what is seen in many European countries already.
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Lids on plastic bottles will also be designed to stay on even after they have been opened. Getty
NSW has already banned several plastic products, including plastic takeaway cutlery, plastic straws and lightweight plastic bags.
The new initiative adds to this and will see a broader requirement for businesses to reuse material or to make their single-use packaging recyclable.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe insisted the measures would help decrease landfill in the state, which is already reaching critical levels.
She said businesses would be supported through the changes.
"Microplastics are entering our bodies and plastic is polluting our environment and oceans, killing our wildlife," she said.
"Our plan has carefully considered actions we need to take to protect the environment and human health, while also considering how we can support industry to transition to recyclable or reusable alternatives."
General manager of Mars Food and Nutrition Australia Bill Heague said his company was already embracing the changes, but said it could not be an overnight endeavour.
"In order to adopt more sustainable packaging without impacting negatively on the consumer's experience, businesses like ours need time to research, develop, test and scale up new packaging solutions," he said.
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