South Australia passes laws banning single-use plastic

South Australia will be the first state in the country to ban single-use plastics after new laws passed parliament yesterday.

The new rules, which come into effect next year, mean the sale, supply and distribution of plastic straws, cutlery and coffee stirrers will be stopped.

The SA Government had planned to put the ban in place earlier this year, but this was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SA Environment Minister David Speirs said the ban would take a staged approach and further bans could follow, including items like disposable coffee cups and individual wrapping and bags for fruits and vegetables.

"We were the first state in Australia to introduce deposits on containers, the first state in Australia to ban lightweight plastic bags and we're now the first state to pass legislation banning single-use plastics," Mr Speirs said.

"Over the next couple of years I think we'll move quickly towards being single-use plastic free, there's a real hunger in the community." 

With SA's announcement, Queensland is also looking at introducing new legislation on single-use plastics at state parliament later this month.