NSW EPA would like to ensure veterinarians are aware of an exemption to the 1 November 2022 ban for plastic bowls and cotton buds/swabs.

The NSW Government has banned the supply of several plastic items this year under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 and as part of the NSW Plastics Action Plan:

• From 1 June 2022: lightweight plastic bags – a bag with handles (other than a barrier bags, such as bags designed and intended to be used to contain food waste, household waste or human or animal waste), that has a thickness at any part of the bag of 35 microns or less

• From 1 November 2022: expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service items;  plastic microbeads in certain rinse-off personal care products; and plastic single-use  straws, cutlery (including plastic chopsticks and sporks), stirrers, bowls (excluding bowls with a spill-proof lid whether separate or attached, for example those used for a take-away soup), plates and cotton-buds

Consultation undertaken by the NSW Environment Protection Authority indicated that plastic single-use bowls may continue to be needed for drinking bowls for animals in isolation or quarantine for disease control purposes, and that plastic single-use cotton buds/swabs may still be needed for certain medical (including veterinary) purposes. These needs have been addressed in an exemption published on the EPA’s website, with the accompanying guidance to the exemption providing more information, however please feel free to contact us should you wish to discuss any aspects or have any queries.

It should be noted that the EPA intends to review this exemption after two years (1 November 2024), but may still review it at any time. The exemption can be varied or revoked by a notice published in the NSW Government Gazette.

During these two years, we suggest suppliers who are still using plastic single-use bowls and/or cotton buds/swabs actively monitor for suitable alternatives, trialling potential alternatives and transition to suitable reusable or sustainable alternatives.

Information on other exemptions to the bans can be found at: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing-and-regulation/public-registers/current-plastics-exemptions.