Committee Details

Committee's report

The committee tabled its report on 28 August 2020. The government's response to the committee's report was tabled on 10 November 2020. The Bill lapsed before it was debated in Parliament, due to the dissolution of the 56th Parliament on 6 October 2020.

Overview

On 15 July 2020, Hon Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts, introduced the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Bill 2020 (Bill). The Bill was referred to the Natural Resources, Agricultural Industry Development and Environment Committee for detailed consideration and report by Friday, 28 August 2020. 

According to the explanatory notes the principal policy objective of the Bill is to amend the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 to ban the supply of single-use plastic items, starting with straws, stirrers, plates and cutlery. These items are predominantly unable to be recovered for recycling through mainstream and widespread collection systems, and can end up contaminating recycling streams thereby potentially creating more waste that requires disposal. The Bill seeks to achieve a reduction in plastic pollution resulting from single-use plastic by 20 per cent by 2023.

The Bill supports delivery of the broader principles of the Queensland Government’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy, released on 1 July 2019 and the aims of Tackling Plastic Waste – Queensland’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan to reduce plastic waste and the environmental and economic impacts of plastic pollution.

Timeline