NSW Plastics Bans and Veterinary Exemptions

The NSW Government has banned the supply of several plastic items this year under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 and as part of the NSW Plastics Action Plan:

• From 1 June 2022: lightweight plastic bags – a bag with handles (other than a barrier bags, such as bags designed and intended to be used to contain food waste, household waste or human or animal waste), that has a thickness at any part of the bag of 35 microns or less.
• From 1 November 2022: expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service items; plastic microbeads in certain rinse-off personal care products; and plastic single-use straws, cutlery (including plastic chopsticks and sporks), stirrers, bowls (excluding bowls with a spill-proof lid whether separate or attached, for example those used for a take-away soup), plates and cotton-buds.

Consultation undertaken by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) indicated that plastic single-use bowls may continue to be needed for drinking bowls for animals in isolation or quarantine for disease control purposes, and that plastic single-use cotton buds/swabs may still be needed for certain medical (including veterinary) purposes.

These needs have been addressed in an exemption issued under section 61 of the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021. This includes that:

• Plastic single use bowls can be supplied to a person who uses the item for medical, scientific or forensic purposes. Examples of uses for medical, scientific or forensic purposes include use by a:
  • Veterinary clinic for use as a water bowl for an animal in isolation, where needed to help control the spread of infection or diseasescientific or forensic laboratory where a sterile bowl is needed to collect samples to avoid contamination.
  • Scientific or forensic laboratory where a sterile bowl is needed to collect samples to avoid contamination.
• Plastic single-use cotton buds/swabs can be supplied to a person who uses the item for medical, scientific or forensic purposes. Examples of uses for medical, scientific or forensic purposes include:
  • Taking samples for a pathology test,
  • As part of a kit used for medical purposes, such as for surgery
  • Supply to a veterinary clinic for staff to use for medical purposes
  • Cleaning scientific equipment by a research laboratory.

Further information is available in the exemption’s accompanying guidance.

It should be noted that the EPA intends to review this exemption after two years (1st November 2024), but may still review it at any time. The exemption can be varied or revoked by a notice published in the NSW Government Gazette. During these two years, the EPA suggest suppliers who are still using plastic single-use bowls and/or cotton buds/swabs actively monitor for suitable alternatives, trialling potential alternatives and transition to suitable reusable or sustainable alternatives.

Information on other exemptions to the NSW plastic bans can be found at: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing-and-regulation/public-registers/current-plastics-exemptions.