According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the ban on disposable plastics in Canberra, the capital of Australia, has been further expanded. Under the latest law, food suppliers will be banned from using disposable plastic products at music festivals and sports events. This means that after that, there will be no plastic bowls, plates, disposable plastic straws and takeout containers in activities including Australian folk festival, Australian Football League and cricket games, but tableware and containers made of cardboard and other materials.

In fact, the ban on plastics in the capital territory may not end there. The list of prohibited items has been expanded in consultation with relevant departments. Items that may be banned from July 1, 2022 will also include non essential disposable plastic straws, disposable plastic bags for packaging fruits and vegetables, cotton swabs with plastic rods, and all plastic products that need oxidative degradation, such as degradable plastics and dog dung bags.

Chris Steele, Minister of transport and urban services of the capital territory, said that expanding the plastic ban was “another big step” to make Canberra more sustainable. “Canberra people strongly support the phasing out of disposable plastics, and we are trying to find more items to add to the ban list,” he said

Don Verner, chief executive of Canberra Rangers Football Club, said: “as the event organizer, we have the responsibility to protect our ecological environment. I believe our members and fans will support us in adopting this method on game day.”

Mia Swanston of the Canberra Environment Center encourages people to plan ahead, such as carrying tableware, so that they can make a leisurely transition to plastic free. She believes that returning to “plastic reduction” is an important matter in the post epidemic period.