Disposable plastic straws, cutlery and containers will soon be banned in Victoria in a state government crackdown on single-use plastics.
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Victorian Health Minister Lily D'Ambrosio on Saturday announced specific single-use plastic items would be phased out and banned by 2023.
Plastic straws, drink stirrers, plates, cups and polystyrene containers are in the firing line.
Cotton buds with plastic sticks will also be prohibited.
With each Victorian on average sending about 68 kilograms of plastic to landfill each year, banning the single-use items is a good place to start, Ms D'Ambrosio said.
"Single-use plastic items - like straws and plastic cups - make up about one third of Victoria's litter.
"We need to change this, so we're getting rid of them."
Suitable, sustainable alternatives are readily available and already commonly used, she said.
The ban will not include medical or scientific equipment, and exemptions will apply for emergency, disability and aged care services that require them.
Government will lead the way by phasing the items out of their own systems within a year.
Australian Associated Press
