Single-use plastic bans come into effect TODAY in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. What are the new rules?

Across the country, more and more single-use plastics, including microbeads, packing peanuts and balloons, are being phased out.

Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia introduced new bans to varying degrees on Friday.

All three states have banned the use of plastic-handled cotton swabs, while WA has also banned the packaging of peanuts, microbeads, and plastic cups and containers for raw meat.

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the feedback from companies was “overwhelmingly supportive”.

“We will continue to use a common sense, educational approach to enforcing these bans,” he said.

In South Africa, plastic pizza savers and single-use bowls and plates will be banned as the government ensures transition programs are available for businesses.

The Queensland government has also banned microbeads and packing peanuts, and has put an end to mass launches of lighter-than-air balloons.

This brings Queensland in line with all other states except NSW and the ACT.

There is no overarching plastic framework plan in Australia, allowing states and territories to enact their own bans, something that frustrates the Australian Retailers Association.

“The rollout of three different regulations, in three states, on the same day underscores the logistical challenges created by state-by-state rollouts and the need for national alignment,” said Paul Zahra, CEO of the association.

“We have been told by our members that we could have moved away from single-use plastic much more quickly if we had a national framework and education program.”

Mr Zahra said the retailers’ association would continue to advocate for governments to take an ‘education before enforcement’ approach to the bans.