Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? (2024)

Abstract

Problems relating to plastic pollution have gained increasing attention over the last decade. In Australia, a number of government and industry initiatives, such as the prohibition on the sale of certain plastics, have sought to respond to growing community concern regarding the negative environmental effects associated with plastic production and use. However, regulation has been haphazard and, as a result, has contributed to confusion and regulatory overlap (or underlap) that contradicts the central goal of minimising the negative environmental effects of plastic. While plastic pollution has gained a great deal of attention, there has been very little legal scholarship in Australia exploring regulation. This article seeks to address this gap in legal scholarship by comprehensively analysing the different approaches to plastic regulation across various jurisdictions in Australia. The analysis suggests that the scattered regulatory approach, as well as half-hearted co-ordination, prevent the successful implementation in Australia of a circular economy for plastics: one of the key goals of regulatory regimes across Australia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)124-145
Number of pages22
JournalEnvironmental and Planning Law Journal
Volume39
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? (1)
  • Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? (2)

Cite this

  • APA
  • Author
  • BIBTEX
  • Harvard
  • Standard
  • RIS
  • Vancouver

Kourabas, S. (2023). Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? Environmental and Planning Law Journal, 39(2), 124-145.

Kourabas, Steve ; Nagtzaam, Gerry. / Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution : letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom?. In: Environmental and Planning Law Journal. 2023 ; Vol. 39, No. 2. pp. 124-145.

@article{345ff84b1bed4341abd955fb1493ac82,

title = "Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom?",

abstract = "Problems relating to plastic pollution have gained increasing attention over the last decade. In Australia, a number of government and industry initiatives, such as the prohibition on the sale of certain plastics, have sought to respond to growing community concern regarding the negative environmental effects associated with plastic production and use. However, regulation has been haphazard and, as a result, has contributed to confusion and regulatory overlap (or underlap) that contradicts the central goal of minimising the negative environmental effects of plastic. While plastic pollution has gained a great deal of attention, there has been very little legal scholarship in Australia exploring regulation. This article seeks to address this gap in legal scholarship by comprehensively analysing the different approaches to plastic regulation across various jurisdictions in Australia. The analysis suggests that the scattered regulatory approach, as well as half-hearted co-ordination, prevent the successful implementation in Australia of a circular economy for plastics: one of the key goals of regulatory regimes across Australia.",

author = "Steve Kourabas and Gerry Nagtzaam",

year = "2023",

language = "English",

volume = "39",

pages = "124--145",

journal = "Environmental and Planning Law Journal",

issn = "0813-300X",

publisher = "Lawbook Co.",

number = "2",

}

Kourabas, S 2023, 'Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom?', Environmental and Planning Law Journal, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 124-145.

Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? / Kourabas, Steve; Nagtzaam, Gerry.
In: Environmental and Planning Law Journal, Vol. 39, No. 2, 2023, p. 124-145.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution

T2 - letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom?

AU - Kourabas, Steve

AU - Nagtzaam, Gerry

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Problems relating to plastic pollution have gained increasing attention over the last decade. In Australia, a number of government and industry initiatives, such as the prohibition on the sale of certain plastics, have sought to respond to growing community concern regarding the negative environmental effects associated with plastic production and use. However, regulation has been haphazard and, as a result, has contributed to confusion and regulatory overlap (or underlap) that contradicts the central goal of minimising the negative environmental effects of plastic. While plastic pollution has gained a great deal of attention, there has been very little legal scholarship in Australia exploring regulation. This article seeks to address this gap in legal scholarship by comprehensively analysing the different approaches to plastic regulation across various jurisdictions in Australia. The analysis suggests that the scattered regulatory approach, as well as half-hearted co-ordination, prevent the successful implementation in Australia of a circular economy for plastics: one of the key goals of regulatory regimes across Australia.

AB - Problems relating to plastic pollution have gained increasing attention over the last decade. In Australia, a number of government and industry initiatives, such as the prohibition on the sale of certain plastics, have sought to respond to growing community concern regarding the negative environmental effects associated with plastic production and use. However, regulation has been haphazard and, as a result, has contributed to confusion and regulatory overlap (or underlap) that contradicts the central goal of minimising the negative environmental effects of plastic. While plastic pollution has gained a great deal of attention, there has been very little legal scholarship in Australia exploring regulation. This article seeks to address this gap in legal scholarship by comprehensively analysing the different approaches to plastic regulation across various jurisdictions in Australia. The analysis suggests that the scattered regulatory approach, as well as half-hearted co-ordination, prevent the successful implementation in Australia of a circular economy for plastics: one of the key goals of regulatory regimes across Australia.

M3 - Article

SN - 0813-300X

VL - 39

SP - 124

EP - 145

JO - Environmental and Planning Law Journal

JF - Environmental and Planning Law Journal

IS - 2

ER -

Kourabas S, Nagtzaam G. Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? Environmental and Planning Law Journal. 2023;39(2):124-145.

Australia's regulatory approach to plastic pollution: letting a thousand (plastic) flowers bloom? (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5679

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.