October 1 - 31, 2026: Issue 659

 

Reforms to reduce plastics and microplastics: Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 passes Upper House + Pittwater Councillor's Attempt to Turn the Local Plastic Tide: October 2026 council meeting

Rubber infill pad installed alongside Narrabeen Lagoon over tree roots shows those trees are poking through/breaking rubber infill in known flood zone. Photos: Pittwater Online News site investigations, 2026

On Thursday October 22 2026 the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 passed.


The government states the reforms aim to reduce plastic waste, make more products recyclable and help keep harmful plastics out of our waterways.

'From plastic bread tags to balloon sticks, microbeads and lollipop sticks, the NSW Government is rolling out a wave of phase-outs as part of the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 to tackle one of the state's fastest-growing waste problems.' the government said

More than 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste is sent to NSW landfills each year. With more plastic entering our waterways every year, it’s predicted that without action there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by 2050.

Plastic is also entering our bodies as microplastics, and the community is increasingly concerned about the amount of single-use plastics in our society.

Soy sauce fish containers will need to be recyclable and fruit and vegetable stickers will need to transition to be compostable by 2030.

The reforms also tackle the hundreds of millions of single-use coffee cups used in NSW each year. Nearly 800 million single-use cups are used in NSW each year, and most are used for only a matter of minutes before being discarded.

Takeaway coffee cups are not being banned. Instead, the changes will make it easier for people to recycle their coffee cups or use a reusable cup if they choose.

Following extensive industry consultation, the reforms will be introduced gradually and include:

  • From 2028, single-use takeaway coffee cups will need to be recyclable, helping divert more waste from landfill. Takeaway coffee cups are not being banned.
  • From 2028, cafes will need to offer a mug or glass when customers are dining in (instead of a disposable cup) and accept keep cups for takeaway (when clean and hygienic).
  • Introducing voluntary reusable cup schemes, which allow people to borrow a keep cup. These programs will not be mandatory for small businesses.

'The government will run reuse trials from as early as next year, where government-owned venues including stadiums and office buildings will offer beverages and takeaway food in reusable packaging that is designed to be returned, washed and reused.' the announcement states

Reuse models are already in action in several places in NSW, including at Barangaroo, at some festivals and in some stadiums.

Balloon Release Ban

The legislation also makes immediate changes to products such as lighter-than-air (helium) balloons in NSW, with a ban on their intentional release helping to reduce plastic pollution and protect marine wildlife and birds.

'The NSW Government will continue working closely with industry on implementation, providing support, education and guidance ahead of the changes coming into effect.

The staged approach recognises the pressures facing small businesses and gives industry time to find practical, affordable ways to comply. The EPA has previously granted extensions to businesses where needed during the introduction of other plastic phase-outs, such as plastic bags and straws.' the government said

To read the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0, visit: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Plastics/plastics-plan-20

NSW Minister for the Environment, the Hon.  Penny Sharpe, said:

“The days of unnecessary plastics being handed out, thrown away and left to pollute our environment are coming to an end.

“The legislation we’ve just passed contains the biggest reforms of problematic plastics in a generation and has been designed in partnership with businesses and industries to support a smooth transition to reusable alternatives.

“Our wildlife, our waterways and our health will benefit from these changes.”

Dee Why - Manly Lagoons among most microplastic polluted

In June Pittwater Online ran a report from the NSW Marine Estate, the NSW Broadscale Microplastic Assessment report, the first comprehensive statewide study of microplastic contamination in estuarine and coastal waterways, which found Dee Why and Manly Lagoons were among the most polluted by microplastics across New South Wales. 

The types of plastics found in Dee Why Lagoon during the course of the study were Artificial Turf fragments (2.33%) Film (15.12%) Foam (37.6%) and Fragment (43.8%). Of these fragments 66.9% were small, 23.38% medium fragments and 9.65% were large fragments.

Dee Why had one of the highest median microplastic concentrations were recorded in urban catchments (9.98 MP/m³).  

Similarly, the highest mean concentrations were observed in these same systems; Duck River (34.80 MP/m³ ± 42.29 SD), Dee Why Lagoon (22.45 MP/m³ ± 28.49 SD but increases to 64.73%), and Cooks River (19.89 MP/m³ ± 19.69 SD) (Figure 12). 

The Cooks River was ranked as having the highest microplastic contamination level in New South Wales, due to its consistently elevated concentrations recorded throughout the study period.  

This system was followed closely by Dee Why Lagoon.

Dee Why was graded 'E', very high microplastic contamination levels, as was Manly Lagoon and Middle Harbour, although neither was found to be as polluted as Dee Why Lagoon.

Dee Why data from SEED dataset

Total Earth Care (TEC) was commissioned by the Northern Beaches Council to conduct a year-round bird survey at the Dee Why Lagoon. The survey, which ran from September 2019 to August 2020, observed 102 different species using the lagoon and surrounding vegetation. This included Three threatened species – Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and Eastern Osprey (Pandion haliaetus cristatus), and four species listed as migratory under the EPBC Act – Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Eastern Reef Egret (Egretta sacra), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminate) and White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster).

The scale for Manly Lagoon records 56.55% of its plastic pollution is Artificial Turf fragments, consistent with the data released in January 2026 in a similar study conducted by Ausmaps, with 87.88% of all microplastic fragments categorised as small. Middle Harbor also had a high Artificial Turf reading of 25%.

Across the state plastic grass now accounts for 5.5% of all microplastic pollution.

Narrabeen Lagoon was categorised as 'D', 'moderate contamination', with no detected presence of plastic grass as yet, just fragments (40%) and film (60%) of which 88.17% is classed as small. 

The findings give government agencies, councils and communities a clearer understanding of where plastics are accumulating and where action will have the greatest impact.

Pittwater Estuary 

Pittwater was classed 'C', with no presence, as yet, of plastic turf. In Pittwater's estuary film accounted for 66.67% of the plastic types, and 33.33% in fragments, with 86.21% of these plastic types listed as small, 10.34% medium and 3.45% large fragments.

Also classed as 'C' are the Hawkesbury, Cowan, Brisbane Water and Berowra, while Broken Bay is classed 'B', and low in microplastics contamination.

Over three years, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) surveyed 120 waterways. DCCEEW Senior Scientist Samantha Lynch says the project has delivered a consistent method for assessing microplastics across NSW.

“We developed a standardised approach to measure microplastics and compare results from the Tweed River to the Victorian border,” Ms Lynch said.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than half a centimetre. They are fragments of larger items that break down over time. The study confirmed microplastics are present in all sampled waterways, from busy urban creeks to regional rivers and remote coastal systems.

Although microplastics are tiny, they can travel long distances, settle in sediments and be ingested by wildlife, and move through the food chain. Understanding where they accumulate helps guide future research.

NSW EPA Senior Project Officer, John Lavarack says the study provides a crucial benchmark.

“This research gives us a clear starting point. We can now track changes over time and understand whether our actions are making a difference,” Mr Lavarack said.

Installing Plastic Products in Pittwater

The Northern Beaches council has stated its intent to install plastic grass in the flood zone of Narrabeen's 'Rat Park'.

The council has installed plastic grass and rubber crumb softfall in the flood zone of Narrabeen's 'Rat Park' and has already installed, without consultation and despite objections, plastic turf in flood zones alongside Narrabeen Lagoon, in Avalon's Dunbar Park and at Bayview's Kamilaroi Park, and at Lynne Czinner Park - with no update of the Plan of Management for the same to record this is now present.

Residents state this is causing harm to people and irreparable damage to the environment and have continued to express concerns over the use of any plastic product, whether its rubberfill in playgrounds, boardwalk sections along tracks, or plastic grass in known flood zones.

Last week the council opened the 'coast walk from Newport to Bilgola' which has long sections of a plastic boardwalk material which studies show commence polluting the environment as it is being installed. Although the walkway project being completed is cause for celebration in one form, the impact on the environment negates any true celebration.

In assessing what products it will use, the Northern beaches Council refers to its own policies.

In the council webpage for this project it does state; ‘’Design concepts follow our public space design guidelines - you can read Public Space Vision and Design Guidelines - Northern Beaches for more information’’. 

The 'Public Space Vision and Design Guidelines' document is littered with references to make everything the council does ‘cost-effective’ – or affordable in other words - and although it does not specifically state it will use and install plastic products as the default or first resort, these products are listed in each component the document covers. 

Opponents of the use of these products point out the health impacts and the impacts on future generations who will foot the bill for the clean up as well as the high financial cost of disposing of such products.


Millers Reserve, alongside Manly Creek, submerged by water after the heavy rains, March 2022. Photo: Julia Walsh

Plastic turf installed in Dunbar Park, over a creekbed and in a known flood zone, without consultation

The council has also been installing rubberised soft fall and artificial turf in other children's playgrounds, despite objections due to health impacts, which also quickly deteriorates and pollutes environments. 

A comparative study conducted on PAHs profiling and probable cancer risk of children from PAHs present in uncovered playground surface soil and poured rubber surfaced playground dust found cancer risk is approximately 10 times higher in poured rubber surfaced playgrounds than in uncovered soil playgrounds [1.].

Another study, Toxicity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioavailability in recycled tire rubber granulate of varying particle sizes, published online on 29 December 2025, states:

''The rubber granulate was toxic to all tested organisms. Larger granulate particles caused a reduction in toxic effects on the organisms studied. These findings suggest that using rubber granulate in the environment, especially in public areas such as playgrounds, sports fields, and running tracks, may lead to the release of toxic organic compounds into soil and surface waters. Prolonged exposure could disrupt soil ecosystem functions and pose potential health risks, particularly for children who come into direct contact with the granulate. The results highlight the need for cautious use of tire-derived granulate and the development of guidelines to ensure its safe application.''

Pittwater Councillor's Attempt to Turn the Local Plastic Tide

Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy has been trying through successive council meetings to require the council update or at least list where it has installed plastic products and to shift its policy from installing damaging products to choosing those which will do no harm and not require millions to be spent in disposing of these.

At the October 2026 Meeting her second Motion in regard to this finally got up.

Cr. Korzy's Background for her motion reads:

''Over the last few years, I’d become concerned about the amount of plastic I saw proliferating in local infrastructure. Plastic had been appearing, for example, in new speed humps on our roads, on wharf posts and in sandbags used to prevent beach erosion. 

As a result, last July I brought a motion to Council calling for a review of plastic use in our infrastructure. Councillors have now received a report back from staff that shows plastic use is widespread across the local government area for these purposes. A non-exhaustive list of these includes:

Roads 

  • Asphalt (recycled)
  • Line marking
  • Geofabric

Parks

  • Synthetic turf
  • Rubber crumb (most products recycled)
  • Fibreglass boardwalks and decking
  • Playground equipment
  • Bollards, wheel stops and posts (recycled) 
  • Bins (recycled) 
  • Signage ‘skins’ 

Domestic Waste

  • Bins (recycled) 

Stormwater

  • Pipes (PVC)
  • Pipe liners

Buildings

  • Roofing
  • Waterproofing
  • Insulation
  • Flooring
  • Fitout materials

Marine and coastal

  • Wharf and jetty infrastructure
  • Pile wrapping, 
  • Tidal pool netting
  • Geofabric
  • Geotextiles, eg used in sandbags   

''This use of recycled plastic for infrastructure is in line with Council’s current Climate Change Action Plan, which is part of our Environment and Climate Change Strategy. It calls for us to:

  • 5.1 Develop and implement a road-map that delivers sustainable procurement outcomes including the use of sustainable and recycled materials and the accounting for whole of life cycle costs.
  • 5.2 Replace single use plastics in Council’s operations.
  • 5.3 Continue to use recycled aggregate and road base in Council road works. 
  • 5.4  Partner with other organisations to trial new and emerging technologies for using recycled materials in Council operations and works. 

However, plastic - whether new or recycled - continues to break down through shedding, abrasion, fragmentation, UV exposure and leaching into soil, which in turn impact the environment and public health.

Additionally, recent research has indicated that recycled plastic can be more toxic than those that are new. For example, a major chemistry journal published an article last October outlining the threats to human health from plastic, noting that some of the harmful substances present in new plastics are more concentrated once they are recycled (RSC Advances, 2025 Oct 27;15(48)).

We know plastic is an extremely useful material that is ubiquitous in our homes and workplaces. It’s lightweight, tough, flexible, a good insulator and cheap to produce. 

However, whilst it might be cheaper to install infrastructure using plastic rather than other more sustainable materials, there are major penalties for the environment and human health - that translate into significant financial costs down the line. 

The United Nations Environment Program says that around 20 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the world’s aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lakes and the oceans every year (https://www.unep.org/plastic-pollution).

Large amounts of scientific research have been carried out examining the problems this plastic waste causes. The pre-eminent scientific journal Nature brought together a collection of papers in 2024 focused on ending plastic pollution. Introducing the series it stated that: “Microplastics have been found in the deepest parts of the ocean, the remote Antarctic, and may even reach the stratosphere. Nanoplastics, small enough to enter the bloodstream, are now ubiquitous in air, water, and soil.” 

These 20 papers covered a broad range of issues concerning plastic pollution, including risks to food, the environment and human health; the release of hazardous chemicals in plastics caused by the warming environment; the impact of nanoplastics on aquatic ecosystems; and the exposure risk for sea birds (https://www.nature.com/collections/gfhbbiifdf).

The impacts of plastics on human health are concerning. A joint project between the University of Adelaide and the Minderoo Foundation, with results published in August 2024, examined thousands of scientific studies on exposure to plastic chemicals and the impacts on human health. It found plastics exposure was linked to a broad range of conditions, including: miscarriage in foetuses; lower IQ, obesity, thyroid problems, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children; endometriosis, impacts on sperm concentration and quality, insulin resistance, and a variety of cancers in adults (5).

Given our understanding of the environmental and human health risks inherent in plastics use, and that even recycled plastics potentially contain increased concentrations of toxins and degrade in the environment anyway, this motion proposes a change to our Environment Strategy, which is currently under review.   

Northern Beaches Council can be a leader in reducing the amount of plastic waste that enters our environment by starting to phase out the use of unnecessary and harmful plastics in our infrastructure. Considering end of life disposal options for all materials used, would also help us on our path towards a circular economy. Finally, embedding these steps in our Environment and Climate Change Strategy would send a strong message to the whole community about the need to reduce plastic use.''

However, at the October 20 2026 council meeting her Motion was again tabled - and changed by another Pittwater ward councillor, Rowie Dillion and a Manly ward councillor, Cr. Bingham.

The original was:

ITEM 16.1 NOTICE OF MOTION NO 30/2026 - REDUCING PLASTIC USE IN COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE 

Cr Korzy / Cr Glanville 

That Council: 

1. Review its internal design guidelines and asset management plans to: 

a. reduce plastic use in Council infrastructure, especially where sustainable and cheaper options are available 

b. consider end-of-life disposal when selecting infrastructure materials and products. 

2. Include the above actions in the updates to the Environment and Climate Change Strategy, which is currently under review. AMENDMENT 

Cr Dillon / Cr Bingham 

That Council:  

1. Review its internal design guidelines and asset management plans to:  

a. reduce plastic use in Council infrastructure, where practicable 

b. consider end-of-life disposal when selecting infrastructure materials and products. 

2.  Include the above actions in the updates to the Environment and Climate Change Strategy, which is currently under review. 

 VOTING FOR: Cr Robins, Cr Singh, Cr De Luca, Cr Giltinan, Cr Bingham, Cr Dillon, Cr Beaugeard, Cr Harvey, Cr Williams, Cr Hackman, Cr Grattan and Cr Heins (12) AGAINST: Cr Korzy and Cr Glanville (2) CARRIED 

THE AMENDMENT WAS CARRIED AND DEBATE RESUMED ON THE SUBSTANTIVE MOTION RESOLVED 26/242 

VOTING FOR: Cr Robins, Cr Singh, Cr De Luca, Cr Giltinan, Cr Bingham, Cr Dillon, Cr Korzy, Cr Beaugeard, Cr Harvey, Cr Williams, Cr Glanville, Cr Hackman, Cr Grattan and Cr Heins (14) AGAINST: Nil (0) CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 

See: Draft Local Environmental Plan (LEP) - draft Development Control Plan (DCP) Now on Exhibition - July 2026

sandbags in geo-tex at a Palm Beach on the beach stormwater drain in July 2024 - these are still in this same spot at present, 13 months later, although disintegrating further and washing out so sea

plastic boardwalk material installed in the Newport to Bilgola beach environment. Photo: AJG/PON

NSW Plastics Plan 2.0: the Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026

The Environmental Legislation Amendment (Plastic Reduction and Container Recycling) Bill 2026 passed the lower house of the NSW Parliament on Wednesday June 3 2026 and was introduced to the upper house by incumbent NSW Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Penny Sharpe. 

In speaking in support of the Bill the MP for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, stated:

If we walk along the beach at high tide at Narrabeen, Avalon, Mona Vale or Palm Beach, we can look down and see the reality that there is plastic in our sand, despite the tireless clean-up efforts of our local community groups. Reform must start somewhere. Following past Federal and State governments developing national and State strategies to reduce plastic, and the current plastics plan, this legislation is another step towards creating a framework to reduce plastic use and turn off the tap of plastic flow. As members have mentioned, we cannot simply recycle our way out of the plastic problem. The bill before us gives people the right to use their re-usable cups, and for those to be accepted. It also establishes over many years a container scheme. I note that the focus will be to roll out trials in big precincts over a number of years.

The big one for my community is that the bill bans the release of helium balloons. That is long overdue, and it continues to come up in all the beach cleans I attend. It comes up literally in the removal of balloons from the beach and also as a topic of conversation. People want that reform. I know that the people in the Pittwater community care deeply about this issue. Many passionate environmental volunteers roll up their sleeves to do beach cleans and other environmental work in the community. For years, they have been strong adopters of re‑usable cups and cup libraries within our villages. They will embrace and support the initiatives within the bill before the House. Those people contact me regularly. Janet from Whale Beach wrote to me about microplastics in urban catchments. Barbara from Mona Vale travels widely, educating the community on how to reduce plastics.

I call out a couple of groups that are active in the community, including Living Ocean and AUSMAP citizens scientists who have sifted through our sands, and the Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches and its Adopt A Beach program, which has won council awards. Of course, favourites in our area are Emu Parade and Roly's initiative to provide free coffee to people who volunteer to collect beach rubbish, and Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew. At the first Emu Parade clean-up I went to, the topic of banning balloons was most discussed, as well as the plastic fish soy sauce bottles. Our community is doing the heavy lifting, but volunteerism has reached its physical limits. Only the statutory power of the Parliament as well as big changes by corporations can stop pollution at the source.

In 2024-25 New South Wales generated 22.4 million tonnes of waste. That is a 5 per cent increase from the previous year. On average, we generated 2.5 tonnes of waste per person in 2023-24. The NSW State of the Environment 2024 report confirms that both total and per-person waste generation is getting worse. That is despite original targets for per-person waste to decrease by 10 per cent. A third of our waste is not recycled, and we are accelerating the filling of landfills that will reach capacity by 2030. This problem needs to be addressed through significant reform. The Government's incremental policy changes and the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0 are positive steps. I acknowledge that last year the Minister mentioned that plastics make up around 74 per cent of litter in our waterways, yet less than 16 per cent of plastic is recycled in New South Wales. By 2050, it is predicted that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

As we know, we cannot ban our way out of a systemic crisis while allowing a broader tide of packaging to roll over our communities and flood our supermarkets. I note the work that the member for Mackellar is doing at a Federal level, together with other Federal counterparts, to call for a national extended producer responsibility scheme to shift the burden off individuals and onto companies that design and produce this waste. But this is also a local issue. My community was shocked at the findings of the Environment Protection Authority's Broadscale microplastic assessment of NSW estuaries.... the study confirmed severe, systemic microplastic contamination. Middle Harbour Creek and Manly Lagoon ranked in the top 10 most polluted waterways in the entire State, receiving the worst possible rating of a grade E.

We have a huge task before us, but today brings good news. The bill is a step forward. It lays the foundations for a renewable, circular economy that the community can get behind. People are already involved in that. I seriously question members who have criticised the bill or make claims that the bill is a cafe killer. I have owned a small business and I support small business. I note that the Government has indicated that the provisions in the bill will be rolled out to big precincts and stadiums, in partnership with business. They will not be rolled out overnight. We are looking at a 2030 runway.

In reviewing whether there should or could be exemptions and whether I should move my own amendments, I discovered that there are already exemptions. Section 61 is called "Regulator may grant exemptions". I will not read them all out. Small businesses should know that there are exemptions for many of the issues that have been addressed today, with a long timeline and a partnership approach. That issue is not an issue at all. To say anything else is fearmongering and disingenuous. All members want a problem such as this to be addressed and the solution to be rolled out in partnership. I note that in the past the Opposition has done great work in this area. The member for Manly and former environment Minister celebrated the banning of single-use items—straws, plates, cotton buds, cookware and other items. In a 2022 media release he said:

The feedback is clear – the community is disturbed by the amount of single-use plastic … today we're asking everyone across the state to stop it and swap it.

Today I say the same thing, even if he and the Opposition do not. We must be bold and visionary to address our plastics problem. We must work with communities, governments and businesses over the coming years. Some 1.84 billion single-use plastic cups are used by Australians every year. It contributes $300 million in costs as well. If Western Australia can adopt a total ban on single‑use coffee cups, New South Wales can totally do the same and manage the transition in a positive way. We are behind Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden, as well as other States. The bill will reduce Sydney's waste rather than sending it to regional areas. I note the concerns of the member for Wollondilly regarding a proposed development in her area for the recycling of plastics. Again, we cannot recycle our way out of the plastics problem.

I owe it to the volunteers cleaning our beaches, the students who come to me concerned about the state of our environment now and into the future, and everyone who cares about pollution and its impacts on health to ensure that they inherit a New South Wales that has less plastic pollution by helping to turn the taps off, which this bill does. I have lived completely plastic free for a number of years, although I am not as good as I used to be. I ran a course, 6 Weeks to Plastic Free, through council. I understand how change can make a difference to people's personal waste. I also understand how possible it is for us to live with less plastic and to put pressure on governments and corporations to make the big changes that matter most, which is what we are doing today. It is possible but it takes reform. I commend the bill to the House.

The NSW Marine Estates has said the Bill will allow implementing actions under the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0. This will support ongoing efforts to reduce plastic pollution and protect the health of NSW waterways.

Previously:

Further in: