On September 9 2020, the South Australian Parliament passed the Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Act 2020. This legislation prohibits the sale, supply and distribution of certain single-use plastic products and establishes a framework for adding other products in the future. Please be aware the legislation starts on March 1, 2021. The legislation implements the government’s July 2019 announcement to address the impacts of single-use plastic products. You can read the legislation here.
Exemptions
The Act contains a provision to implement an exemption that will allow for the sale, supply and distribution of single-use plastic straws to those in the community who rely on them due to disability or medical need. The government is working with the Single-Use Plastic Stakeholder Taskforce to develop these regulations and explanatory information. They will be made available for consultation on this site.
- For some members of our community, there are no suitable alternatives to single-use plastic straws.
- The exemption will allow the sale, supply and distribution of single-use plastic drinking straws to members of the community who require them due to disability or medical need.
- No proof will be required to enable this transaction.
- The exemption is being implemented to ensure that plastic straws remain accessible to people who require them to consume food and beverages safely.
- Green Industries SA will be communicating with businesses, distributors and the community to explain that it will not be an offence to supply single-use plastic straws for the purposes of the exemption, and to encourage businesses to be inclusive of all members of the community.
- Food service businesses ideally should have single-use plastic drinking straws stored behind the counter to provide on request.