Plastic Bag Ban

Plastic Bag Ban

Published on 22 June 2018

Are you ready for the plastic bag ban?

From 1 July 2018 lightweight, single-use plastic bags will no longer be provided by Western Australian retailers. The ban, introduced by the State Government, aims to tackle the growing problem of single-use plastic waste in Western Australia.

The ban will apply to all lightweight, plastic bags with handles—35 microns or less and including degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastic bags.

Eliminate single-use plastic from your life Bring your own bags

Start a new habit today and carry reusable bags with you. Keep them in your car, bag or by the front door at home. The WA Better Bag Guide(PDF, 289KB) has a range of suggested alternatives to single-use plastic bags and their advantages.

Think about your waste Have you considered ditching your bin liner altogether and putting your waste straight into the bin? A bin is easily cleaned each week and wet or smelly items can be wrapped in newspaper. Do you have a compost bin or worm farm to compost your food scraps? Residents are offered a worm farm and compost bin rebate each year between February and May, just make your claim within one year of purchase. Do you know what goes in each bin? Find out what you can recycle, request a green waste bin or see what goes in general waste.

Switch your thinking has a number of tips to help you get started tackling your waste with small changes making a big difference.

Learn more about the impact of single-use plastics

Over 670 million plastic bags are used in Western Australia every year, with approximately 7 million ending up in the environment having a significant impact on marine wildlife and birds.

If you would like to learn more about the reasons behind the ban on lightweight single-use plastic bags download the State Government's Discussion Paper(PDF, 4MB) on the WA ban.

Get your hands dirty and learn more

Keep an eye out waste, recycling and composting events coming up throughout the year.