Wednesday 17 November 2021
Australia’s largest retail industry group, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), has congratulated the NSW Government for passing legislation to phase out single-use plastics, including lightweight plastic bags from July 2022 and plastic straws, plastic cutlery, plastic dinnerware and polystyrene takeaway food containers from December 2022.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the NSW approach is an ambitious but pragmatic response to the challenge of single-use plastics. The legislation passed this week also supports national harmonisation on the phase-out of some single-use plastics, which is critically important for ARA members operating in multiple jurisdictions.
“The NSW Government has a comprehensive and integrated plan for the phase out of single-use plastics which reflects changing community expectations and builds on the solid foundations that have been established in recent years,” Mr Zahra said.
“In recognition of community concern and environmental impacts, the ARA has been working with governments across the country on the phase-out of single-use plastics, as we transition to the circular economy of the future.
“We are currently supporting the continued phase out of single-use plastics in ACT, SA and WA; we are involved in the design of the incoming container deposit scheme in Victoria; and we are part of a cross-sectorial consortium that has received Federal funding to divert post-consumer clothing and textile waste from landfill.”
The ARA also welcomes the passage of legislation through the Victorian and Tasmanian parliaments to grow the circular economy in both states; recent announcements by the WA government about community waste reduction projects; and the proposed expansion of the national Product Stewardship Priority List for products that are hard to recycle.
The ARA is also proud to be playing a leading role in the global push to address climate change, joining the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign as an accelerator for the Australian retail sector.
“Climate change is the next big global disruptor for our industry and the broader community and we’re proud to be playing a leading role on this front,” Mr Zahra said.
