Single-Use Items and Packaging
Phasing out single-use items – plastic or otherwise – is an important step to help reduce waste and protect our environment. Our community and Council recognise the problems being caused by single-use items, packaging and plastic locally and globally.
The Single-Use Items and Packaging Policy was adopted in late 2025 and implementation will commence in 2026. This policy replaces the 2021 Plastic Wise Policy.
Read the Single-Use Items and Packaging Policy
Read the Single-Use Items and Packaging Guide
Background
Single-use items and packaging threaten our natural environment. These items take up valuable landfill space, pose harm to wildlife, pollute the environment, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Our Plastic Wise Events and Markets Policy was introduced in 2016, and following an extensive review with community and market stakeholders, was updated in October 2018, and again in November 2021. We were proud to win the Keep Victoria Beautiful – Sustainable Cities award in the Community-Government Partnerships category in 2018. We are happy to see any other councils, land managers and community groups use our policy as a guide for their own.
This Policy also aligns with Council's Circular Economy Action Plan 2024-2027 priority areas of avoiding waste, maximising reuse and creating systems change.
More information
Local action on plastics and waste
Local initiatives, volunteering & beach clean ups
A number of groups coordinate local initiatives to reduce plastic waste that community members can participate in such as:
Other initiatives to reduce plastic waste
- Take 3 for the Sea: and 'Take 3' pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway… or anywhere, 'Take 3' actions to reduce your single-use plastic, and 'Take 3' people on the journey with you.
- BYO H2O: Carry a reusable drink bottle and use the 'Choose Tap app' to find public drinking taps and fountains around Victoria and look for the "Refillers Welcome" sticker for places offering free tap water refills.
- Get involved in Plastic Free July and challenge yourself and others pledge to refuse to use single-use plastics.
- Look out for Seal the Loop bins that help to keep all aquatic wildlife safe by providing anglers with an easy way to responsibly dispose of unwanted fishing gear.
- Repair Cafe Surf Coast: Give items a new life through repair and recycle textiles and other hard to recycle items.