New Zealand bans single-use plastics to protect environment

Published on : Thursday, July 1, 2021

New Zealand is going to ban single-use plastics such as cutlery, bags, cotton buds, drinking straws and polystyrene takeaway containers in an effort to protect the environment.

The products will be phased out in three stages beginning late next year, as the government moves to ban hard-to-recycle products by mid-2025.

New Zealand is currently one of the world’s biggest producers of landfill waste per capita and the new policy will remove more than 2 billion single-use plastic products from the country’s waste cycle each year

David Parker said that every day, New Zealanders throw away an estimated 159g of plastic waste per person, making us some of the highest waste generators in the world,” the environment minister.

The ban will phase out food and drink packaging made from PVC and polystyrene, as well as some degradable plastic products.

Drink stirrers, cotton buddies, produce bags, cutlery, plates and bowls, straws and fruit labels are also among the items that will be phased out as part of the programme.

But single-use cups, wet wipes and some types of expanded polystyrene used to transport cold goods or protect large items are not included in the ban.

Phasing out unnecessary and problematic plastics will help reduce waste to landfill, improve their recycling system and encourage reusable or environmentally responsible alternatives.