Plastic bag ban in Queensland

The plastic shopping bag ban applies to all retailers in Queensland for in-store and online sales.

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 defines a retailer as 'a person who sells goods in trade or commerce'. Supermarkets, greengrocers, bakeries, chemists, restaurants and clothes stores, as well as market-stall holders and organisations which supply plastic shopping bags, are included in the ban.

Under the ban, shopping bags made from plastic film must be:

• 35 microns or more in thickness
• made from a minimum of 80% recycled content verified by a recognised program or certification
• durable and big enough to carry 10kgs of weight for at least 125 uses verified by a recognised reusability, durability, or endurance test.

Compostable plastic shopping bags are allowed if they are:

• wholly made from compostable plastic which has achieved Australian composting certification (either AS5810 or AS4736)
• 35 microns or more in thickness
• durable and big enough to carry 10kgs of weight for at least 125 uses verified by a recognised reusability, durability, or endurance test.

Certified compostable shopping bags do not need to pass the recycled content requirement, unless the bag includes some non-compostable plastic. The non-compostable plastic component must have a minimum of 80% recycled content.

Retailers may choose to provide and charge for alternative bags, which can include reusable heavy-duty plastic bags, woven polypropylene bags, paper or other bags. Shoppers can also bring their own bag or trolley.

A retailer who is found to be supplying banned plastic shopping bags may be fined 50 penalty points per offence.

A person, such as a supplier, who is found to be providing misleading information about plastic bags may also be fined 50 penalty units per offence.