Balloon releases, cotton buds with plastic stems to be banned in Queensland from September

A range of single-use items will be banned in Queensland from the start of next month as the state government weighs up outlawing even more products – including plastic cups – from next year.

The government has confirmed it will go ahead with a planned ban of expanded polystyrene loose packaging and cotton buds with plastic stems from September 1.

Plastic microbeads in personal care and cleaning products will also be outlawed next month, as well as the outdoor release of lighter-than-air balloons.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard said September 1 would also mark the start of new restrictions for plastic shopping bags, such as those used in department stores.

"Bags with a thickness of 35 microns or more will need to be made of 80 per cent recycled plastic content and meet specific reusability design standards," she said.

The government is expected to make regulation changes before the end of the month to bring the ban into effect.

Single-use plastic straws, stirrers, plates, bowls, forks, spoons, and knives are already banned in Queensland under rules that were introduced in September 2021.

The distribution of expanded polystyrene takeaway food containers and cups is also already outlawed.

The government unveiled a five-year road map last year that proposed banning a range of single-use items and listed when those potential bans would come into effect.

There isn't a whole lot of consistency in Australia around what single-use plastics are being phased out and when. See what's happening in your state.

Plastic drinking cups, oxo-degradable plastics, expanded polystyrene trays, and single-use produce bags are among the items identified in the road map that could be banned from September 2024.

Bread bag tags, balloon sticks, and corflute tree guards could also be outlawed at the same time under the government's proposal.

Ms Linard says the government is still considering whether to proceed with the possible ban next year, with consultation underway.

"The consultation process includes discussions with a single-use plastic item stakeholder advisory group," she said.

"Industry peak bodies discuss progress and implementation challenges and opportunities for the bans commencing this year and those proposed to be banned in future years."

"Other consultation activities include fortnightly information sessions with the National Retail Association (NRA), with businesses impacted by the proposed actions and the single-use plastic drinking cup trials undertaken with Stadiums Queensland earlier this year."

Ms Linard said a decision on the proposed bans for 2024 would be announced after September 1 in line with the government's road map to ensure businesses understood the difference between existing bans and future sanctions.

Ms Linard said the state government had partnered with the NRA to help businesses become "ban compliant" since the first tranche of banned items began in 2021.

She confirmed no fines had been issued to businesses since the new rules began almost two years ago.

"Since the single-use plastic items ban was introduced, the NRA has visited more than 2,600 retailers and investigated 167 reports from the public," Ms Linard said.

"Although a maximum fine of 50 penalty units ($8,049) can be imposed for contravening the single-use plastic bans, we have taken an education-first approach, meaning there has been no need to issue any penalties since the bans were introduced."

In a statement, the NRA said it worked through "immediate solutions" with retailers if any issues were found.

It said it had urged businesses to cease ordering the soon-to-be outlawed products immediately and to use as much remaining stock as possible.

It has also suggested retailers should speak with their suppliers to arrange compliant alternatives, and determine if the supplier could accept a refund, exchange, or credit for excess stock.

"If businesses are concerned about excess stock that they don't believe will be compliant with the new requirements, they should contact us to discuss options for a way forward," the NRA said.

The organisation has been visiting thousands of retailers in over 150 retail precincts and centres across the state ahead of September 1.

"We will continue to work closely with the Queensland government to ensure the actions are practical and deliver better outcomes for all," it said.