Queensland parliament has passed legislation to ban single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates along with polystyrene foam food containers and cups from the 1st of September, 2021.
Queensland is the second state to ban the items, following South Australia’s decision earlier this month.
Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the single-use items are escaping into our oceans and harming the wildlife and spoiling out streets and parks.
The Minister said, "Half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once and then thrown away and that litter is destroying our environment."