New Zealand | Proposals to phase-out more single-use and hard-to-recycle plastics

Following the successful plastic shopping bag ban, the Government is proposing to phase-out more single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic items. 

The four-month public consultation process ends on 4 December. 

Seven single-use items have been identified for proposed phase-out, as they provide problems to New Zealand’s waste management system, or end up as litter. 

The proposed products are:

(*) single-use plastic bags
(*) tableware (e.g. plastic plates, bowls, cutlery)
(*) non-compostable produce stickers
(*) drink stirrers
(*) some single-use cups and lids 
(*) plastic cotton buds
(*) plastic straws.

The seven items were selected using criteria including environmental harm, sustainable alternatives and international trends. 

The Government is also proposing to phase-out all:

(*) PVC food and beverage packaging
(*) polystyrene food and beverage packaging
(*) other expanded polystyrene packaging
(*) oxo-degradable plastic products.

PVC and polystyrene pose bigger problems for recycling than other plastics, such as PET. In many cases, there are alternative plastics that are easier to recycle. 

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