Overview

Plastic pollution is becoming an urgent environmental problem. Globally, thousands of tonnes of plastic enter our waterways and oceans each year. Plastics in the environment break up into smaller and smaller pieces over time. This means that the impacts of plastic pollution are long term, and can become increasingly difficult to manage.

Late last year the Victorian Government committed to banning single-use, lightweight plastic shopping bags. We asked Victorians for their views on how we could design a ban to be effective and lasting. We also asked for feedback on what else we could to reduce the impacts of other types of single-use plastics. You can view the discussion paper, Reducing the impacts of plastics on the Victorian Environment, below.

Summary of feedback

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the Victorian Government's plastic pollution consultation.　

From the consultation, we received an overwhelming response of more than 8,000 submissions. This shows how strongly Victorians feel about protecting their environment and working towards a more sustainable future.

Our consultation report summarises the feedback received on plastic bags and other forms of plastic pollution. It also outlines the details of the plastic bag ban and our next steps on plastic pollution in Victoria. The report can be viewed below.

More information on plastic pollution and the Victorian Government's work to reduce its impacts can be found at www.environment.vic.gov.au/sustainability/plastic-...

Next steps

Step 1: In 2018, we will begin educating retailers and the community about plastic pollution and how to use fewer plastic bags. This will ensure the ban, once introduced, will be as effective as possible.

Step 2: Over the next 12 months, the Victorian Government will develop a plan to prioritise the most effective actions to reduce other types of plastic pollution in our environment. A reference group of government, industry, retail and community group representatives will be established to help develop a plastic pollution plan and advise the government on how we will tackle other types of plastic pollution.

Step 3: A legislative ban on single-use, lightweight plastic bags will begin by the end of 2019.

Ongoing: Victoria will keep working with other states and territories on a national, voluntary phase-out of thick plastic bags. We will hold the Commonwealth to its commitment to phase out microbeads, and seek strong national action on other types of microplastics. We will also promote national conversation about how we can reduce our reliance on single-use plastic items, such as plastic straws
Which bags will be banned?

Reducing Plastic Pollution Survey

1a. Do you support a ban on single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags?

(refer to Comparing Shopping Bags attached under document library for description)

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2a. Should a ban include thick plastic shopping bags?

(refer to Comparing Shopping Bags attached under document library for description)

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3a. Should a ban include plastic bags that break down over time such as biodegradable, degradable or compostable bags?
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5. If lightweight plastic shopping bags were banned, what alternative bags would you prefer to use? (select up to 2 options)

(refer to Comparing Shopping Bags attached under document library for description)

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Privacy Statement

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is committed to protecting personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Victorian privacy laws.

The personal information you provide will be used to administer the public consultation process only. Your contact details may be used by DELWP to update you on the results of the consultation process, and to discuss the details of your submission further.

For more information read DELWP's Information Privacy Policy at www.delwp.vic.gov.au/privacy.

Use of your submission

Your submission has been collected by DELWP for the purpose of informing government policy about reducing the impacts of plastics on the Victorian environment. DELWP may do the following with your submission.

  • Publish a copy of your submission on the DELWP website or other Victorian Government website.
  • Quote directly from your feedback in the DELWP response to feedback and subsequent regulatory impact assessment.
  • Make available to other Victorian Government agencies.

For transparency and accountability, the contents of your submission may be published on a Victorian Government website which is accessible worldwide. Any person may view your comments. Your comments may remain on external servers, even once your comments are removed from the original website it was published on.

All submissions are public documents and may be accessed by any member of the public unless you request, and your comments are given, confidential status.

If you are making comment as an organisation, then your comments may be published, including the name of your organisation. If you are making comments as an individual, then your comments may be published, including your postcode but with no other details.

If you wish to keep your address/contact details private you should refrain from including any information in your comments that could identify your address/contact details.

You have the right to access and correct your personal information. Requests for access should be sent to the Manager Privacy, P.O. Box 500 East Melbourne 3002 or contact by phone on 03 9637 8697


If you provide your email address we will send you a copy of your submission for your records.

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.