The ACT Government has opened consultation on the next stage of its single-use plastic reduction plan, releasing a discussion paper that flags 14 additional items for possible phase-out.

The paper, A circular future for the ACT: problematic products and single-use plastic reduction, invites feedback from industry, businesses and the broader community on how to further cut plastic waste across the Territory.

The ACT has progressively banned a range of problematic single-use plastics since 2021 under the Circular Economy Act 2023, including plastic bags, cutlery, straws and plates. The government says previous reforms were shaped by community engagement and achieved strong business compliance.

Environment Minister Suzanne Orr said the latest consultation would focus on how to transition from single-use plastics to more sustainable and reusable alternatives.

“We want to hear from businesses and the community about what is practical and how Government can best support change – whether that is clear timelines, education, or enabling reuse systems – so we can work towards making reusables the norm across the ACT,” Ms Orr said.

Among the 14 items identified for discussion are barrier and produce bags, flower bags, produce stickers, coffee cups and lids, cold cups, bowls with lids, sauce containers and sachets, soy sauce fish, cigarette filters, bread bag tags, food sticks such as those used for lollipops, pizza savers, prepackaged goods with integrated single-use items and plastic confetti.

The minister said the products were identified due to their environmental impact, including contamination of recycling streams, limited recyclability in kerbside bins, contribution to litter and harm to wildlife, as well as the availability of reusable or sustainable alternatives.

Consultation is open until April 27. The discussion paper and submission details are here.