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AAP
AAP
Politics
Rebecca Gredley

'Problematic' plastics phased-out by 2025

Australia's environment ministers have agreed to phase out a raft of single-use plastics by 2025. (AAP)

Australia's environment ministers are planning to phase out a range of "problematic and unnecessary" plastic products over the next four years.

Lightweight plastic bags, straws, utensils and stirrers are among the list of products the ministers want to eliminate by 2025.

The hit list was created to provide greater certainty for industry, as the states have been chasing differing bans on plastic items.

South Australia's Liberal government has been ahead of the curve, with single-use plastics banned in the state since March.

Victoria and Western Australia already plan to phase out and ban a raft of plastic items by 2023.

Queensland and the ACT have also passed laws to ban single-use plastics including straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates and bowls.

As a result of the meeting, Tasmania and the Northern Territory now have commitments to see single-use plastics phased out by 2025.

PRODUCTS TO BE ELIMINATED:

* Lightweight plastic bags

* Plastic bags misleadingly termed as degradable

* Plastic straws

* Plastic utensils and stirrers

* Expanded polystyrene food containers like cups and takeaway boxes

* Expanded polystyrene packaging

* Microbeads in personal care products

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