Single use plastic ban

The Victorian Government has announced a ban of specific single-use plastic items in Victoria, affective from the 1stf February 2023. This will effect Retail and Hospitality, Suppliers and Organisation and non for profit businesses

For us here in the Market it will predominantly have an impact on our cafes who use plastics, in their businesses such as Plastic Drinking Straws, Cutlery, Plates, Drink Stirrers, Coffee Cups, Coffee Lids and Food Containers. These businesses will already be considering other alternatives such as environmentally friendly bamboo, paper and wood products, however it’s a timely reminder to review if you also use any of these products in your business. This ban is in place to address many problems that come from single-use plastics, by reducing plastic pollution and the impact on our environment at the Melbourne Market. All types of plastics are detrimental to the environment and can end up in our waterways when littered, therefore degradable and compostable raw materials are inclusive of bioplastic items which are also proposed to be banned at a later stage. These single-use plastics makeup one third of Victoria’s litter, that is harming our health and wildlife. Clean up costs of plastics are significant which will be reduced when this ban is in place. A lot of items are impracticable to recycle, as they often taint our recycling processes. The Victorian Government are suggesting avoiding all single-use plastics and consider choosing reusable alternatives instead. If this is not possible, it is suggested to choose from materials such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, wood, or bamboo. The adjustment to these changes in the market may be challenging but as always, we will remain resilient as we move forward to adapt to this ban.