The New Zealand Government has continued its phase out of plastic with The Plastic and Related Products Regulations 2022 coming into force on October 1, prohibiting the sale and manufacture of certain single-use and hard-to-recycle plastic items.
Plastic cotton buds, expanded polystyrene food and beverage retail packaging (eg foam takeaway containers or some instant noodle cups), and PVC food trays and containers for meat, produce and baked items are among those banned as part of a three year progressive phasing out of the most problematic plastics. Work towards phasing out problem plastics and reducing waste was part of the cooperation agreement between Labour and the Green Party after the 2020 election.
This is the first ban since single-use plastic bags were banned in 2019.
These items can no longer be sold, made or given away to customers:
- Polystyrene takeaway packaging for food and beverages
- Expanded polystyrene food and beverage retail packaging (eg foam takeaway containers or some instant noodle cups)
- PVC food trays and containers for meat, produce and baked items
- Plastics with additives that make them fragment into micro-plastics
- Single use plastic drink stirrers
- Single use plastic use cotton buds
Some exceptions apply, including for medical, veterinary or scientific uses, and PVC plastic that is formed, filled with food and sealed on the same factory line.
The next group of single-use plastics to be phased out in mid-2023 includes plates, bowls, cutlery, produce bags and non-compostable produce labels.
More information can be found at environment.govt.nz
