During festivities and functions in Queensland, a large number of balloons were released. Meaghan Scanlon, the state’s environment minister, stated that the balloon ban would target the mass release of lighter thin air types like helium beginning next year. It was also announced that new standards for heavy plastic bags will be introduced, and as the authorized party, they will shortly be tested for reusability and how they can finally be recycled. In 2018, the state began phasing out lightweight plastic shopping bags. They banned a variety of plastic products last year, including straws, stirrers, and expanded polystyrene.
According to the government survey, 90 percent of Queenslanders back tightening regulations on single-use plastic .As a precaution against the plastic crisis, state officials want to phase out other single-use plastic.
The state intends to hold an innovation challenge to investigate alternative replacements, and it aims to collaborate with other jurisdictions on a nationwide strategy in the next year. Scanlon stated that they recognize that the changes would have an impact on businesses and that they will endeavor to ensure that they are prepared. Kate Nobel, WWF Australia’s no plastic manager, stated that this initiative will prevent some of the most harmful single-use plastic from entering Queensland’s beaches and waterways. She goes on to say that this is a great chance for Queensland to transition to a more sustainable strategy in which reuse is the norm and our use of disposables is drastically reduced.
With this new regulation, South Australia has risen to second place in WWF Australia’s ranking for reducing single-use plastic.
By : Nipuni Gamage
University of Peradeniya
