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The changes form part of the next stage of the NSW Plastics Plan, a long-term strategy that has already eliminated items like plastic straws, cutlery, and lightweight shopping bags. The new phase targets “unnecessary and hard-to-recycle plastic products” and will be introduced in stages from next year through to 2030. The move follows growing global concern over microplastics, which are increasingly being found in waterways, wildlife, and even the human body. Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said the updated plan aimed to safeguard both people and the planet. “Microplastics are entering our bodies and plastic is polluting our environment and oceans, killing our wildlife,” she said in a statement. “This plan moves NSW another step closer to phasing out these problematic items,” Ms Sharpe said. At a press conference on Sunday, Ms Sharpe said the state’s growing waste problem was putting pressure on landfill capacity. “We’re running out of landfall across New South Wales and we’re running out of it in Greater Sydney,” she said. She noted that in the past year alone, NSW produced more than 935,000 tonnes of plastic waste, with less than 16 per cent recycled. “A huge amount of it is ending up in our waterways, in our parks, making a mess everywhere.” The rollout will begin next year, when NSW joins other states in banning the release of lighter-than-air helium balloons. Government buildings will also start trialling reusable cup schemes, which are expected to expand to takeaway outlets by 2028 and become mandatory for larger food businesses by 2030. From late 2027, plastic bread tags and the small tripod-shaped pizza savers will be phased out. The same year will also see bans on plastic bags with handles, regardless of thickness, and on plastic umbrella sleeves. Non-compostable plastic fruit and vegetable stickers will also be eliminated. In line with measures already taken in South Australia, miniature soy sauce “fish” bottles and small condiment containers are also being scrapped. To ensure safer production standards, the government will introduce a “green” and “red” list of chemicals, an Australian-first initiative that will identify which substances are permitted or banned in plastic manufacturing and highlight safer alternatives. Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-Sen Li, whose electorate is home to a bustling hospitality scene, said the plan gave local businesses a clear path forward. “Our takeaway and hospitality businesses are the backbone of our economy in Strathfield and Burwood,” Mr Li said. “They want to do the right thing, and now they’ve got a clear, practical path to reduce plastic waste. “This is a real opportunity for businesses to lead. From sushi and dumpling bars to bakeries and noodle shops, Strathfield’s food scene can be at the forefront of the next wave of sustainability.”
