South Australia bans prefilled fish-shaped soy sauce bottles

South Australia on Monday became the first place in the world to ban prefilled fish shaped plastic soy sauce containers, as part of a wider effort by the state government to curb single use plastics and reduce pollution. The prohibition applies to small takeaway bottles with lids, caps or stoppers that hold less than 30 millilitres and takes effect immediately across the state of about 1.9 million people, officials said.

Environment Minister and Deputy Premier Susan Close said the tiny containers are used for seconds yet can persist in the environment for decades, contributing to microplastic pollution and posing a risk to marine life that may mistake them for food. "The tiny bottles were easily dropped, blown away, or washed into drains," she said, adding that even when deposited in recycling bins the items are often too small to be captured by sorting machinery and end up in landfill or as fugitive plastic in the environment.

Under the new rules, restaurants and takeaway outlets must switch to larger bottles and refillable condiment dispensers or use alternatives such as sachets, squeezable packs or compostable vessels. Officials described sachets as lighter and easier to...