NSW: Actions to manage the full life cycle of plastics

The NSW Plastics Action Plan is an integral part of the NSW Government's NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 and outlines the stages of the plastics life cycle (from production and consumption to disposal and recycling) a comprehensive set of actions to address the plastic problem
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The following is an excerpt from the translation of the report:

While plastic is a versatile and useful product, it also increasingly threatens our natural environment
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Once in the environment, plastic takes many years to degrade, often breaking down into smaller pieces that can kill our wildlife
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NSW produces 800,000 tonnes of plastic each year, of which only 10 per cent is recycled
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We recognize the impact of plastics on the natural environment and human health, which is why a comprehensive and bold response to this important issue is needed
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In March 2020, the NSW government released a discussion paper to codify related bills that redirect the future of plastics in NSW
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The paper outlines our approach to working with communities to better manage plastics throughout their life cycle - from production and consumption to disposal, recovery and recycling
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This NSW Plastics Action Plan sets out the first six actions to be taken to achieve these long-term outcomes:

01

Introducing new legislation to reduce harmful plastics

NSW will introduce legislation to phase out some of the most littering plastics
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The availability of sustainable alternatives and the possibility of compostable plastic alternatives were considered when nominating these projects, but these items would only spoil in industrial composting facilities
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Compostable plastic alternatives to these items will also be phased out, given that these items are littered and unlikely to be disposed of in proper composting facilities
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02

Accelerate the transition to better plastic products

Many producers and retailers have started moving away from plastics or are turning to plastics that are easier to recycle
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This shift is good for our environment and our economy because it reduces plastic waste and the amount of plastic that goes to landfill, and keeps the material in the economy longer
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It can also help remove contaminants from recycling bins
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However, changing production processes and using new materials can be expensive initially and may require investment in new equipment or processes
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03

Support innovation

The NSW Government will provide up to $5 million in funding to improve plastics recyclability, trials and pilots of innovative approaches to plastic alternatives and the recycling of plastics
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04

Dispose of cigarette butts

Cigarette butts are one of the largest sources of plastic waste
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Not only do they exist in our natural environment for years, but they are often toxic and can flush into waterways, often through our stormwater systems
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The NSW government will investigate a new expanded producer responsibility scheme that will hold tobacco companies accountable for the littering impact of their products
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05

Reduce the risk of particles (small particles used to make plastic products) entering the environment

Nurdles are small particles of plastic resin that are used as raw materials for the manufacture of plastic products
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Due to their small size, they are difficult to retrieve and remove from the environment
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Their size and appearance (often transparent) means that marine wildlife is often mistaken for food
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The NSW government will provide $500,000 to help plastics manufacturers install systems to prevent particles from entering waterways
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06

Supporting Plastics Research

Plastic is a relatively new material, but still not well understood about its long-term impact on the environment and human health, or how best to dispose of, reuse and recycle it
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To help fill this information gap, the NSW government will commit $2 million to a new plastics research partnership
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The partnership will help drive research at UNSW and research institutions to further understand the future of plastics in the world
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NSW has adopted a number of targets under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy: Phase 1 2021-2027
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The actions outlined in this plan will help us achieve these goals, including:

• Phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025
• Reduce total waste per person by 10%
by 2030 • Achieve an average 80% resource recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030
• Significant government and industry Increase the use of recycled materials
• Reduce plastic waste by 30% by 2025
• Reduce total waste by 60%
by 2030 • Triple plastic recycling by 2030