Polystyrene to be phased out next year under Australia's plastic waste plan

Conservation groups welcome aspects of the largely voluntary packaging and recycling targets but warn regulation will be necessary

Polystyrene foam commonly used to package consumer goods will be phased out in Australia by mid-2022 as part of a national plan to combat mounting plastic waste.

Conservation groups have welcomed many aspects of the plan, which also includes an end to polystyrene food and beverage containers by the end of 2022, but also criticised its largely voluntary approach to reaching ambitious goals, calling for those targets to be mandated.