Page 8 - PR Mag Dec19

PLASTIC POLLUTION ROAD PROJECTS PLANNED AS VILLAGE POPULATION SWELLS

REDUCTION PLAN

Outlines Way Forward to

Tackle Single-Use Plastics

The Queenland Government is proposing to ban single-use plastics and wants to
know what Queenslanders think of the state’s next phase of the war on waste.

Minister for Environment and Great “That is why we will introduce legislation “We want a bright
Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch released to ban these items, following extensive future for Queensland,
Queensland’s Plastic Pollution Reduction consultation with the disability sector. and tackling plastic will
Plan, which sets out the proposed way “We recognise there are some instances help ensure we leave this
forward for dealing with single-use where banning plastics is not feasible state a better place for our
plastics in our state. – such as people with a disability who future generations.”
“There is a growing concern amongst have not found bamboo, paper or metal Boomerang Alliance are delivering the
Queenslanders about the amount of alternatives suitable. successful Plastic Free Places model in
plastic being used in everyday life,” Ms “This is why we will undertake extensive Noosa, Cairns and Townsville with funding
Enoch said. consultation to ensure these needs are from the Queensland Government.
“Majority of Queenslanders (seven out of appropriately understood and addressed, “Our Noosa trial was enormously
ten) already take steps to reduce their use and put in place exemptions in this regard.” successful with more than three million
of single-use plastics, but there is always Minister Enoch said where appropriate, single-use plastic items, such as straws,
more we can do to tackle pollution. it is possible to stamp out single- coffee cups and lids, plastic bags,
“Both government and the community use plastics. plastic cutlery and takeaway containers
need to work together and while “We know it can be done – we’ve seen the eliminated in the past 18 months,”
research shows Queenslanders are on success of the Plastic Free Noosa project, said Queensland Boomerang Alliance
board with tackling plastics, we will which more than 200 businesses have Manager Toby Hutcheon.
undertake extensive consultation with the signed up to, and has helped remove “The program works by signing up
community on this issue. more than three million single-use plastic cafes, food outlets and events to work
“This Plan is an Australian first in its items out of the waste stream.” with a dedicated program coordinator
scope and structure, and takes a holistic Minister Enoch said other actions in the towards eliminating their single-use
approach to the complex nature and Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan include plastic items and/or switching to bio-
impacts of plastic throughout its supply increasing the uptake of recycled plastic degradable options.
chain, and identifies actions that can materials in new products and investing “The success in Noosa and the cafes
be taken. in plastic recovery and reprocessing. signing up in Cairns and Townsville, shows
“One of these actions is to introduce “We will also identify and develop new the program works – there is no reason
legislation next year, subject to businesses and markets to transform the whole state can’t go plastic free.”
consultation through a Regulatory Impact the way plastic is recovered, reused The Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan can
Statement, to ban the supply of plastic and recycled—creating new jobs and be found here:
products including plastic straws, cutlery, industries for Queensland,” she said. www.qld.gov.au/plasticreduction
plates and stirrers.
“And, we will also conduct an analysis to
possibly extend the ban down the track FAST FACTS
to include coffee cups, plastic cups and • About 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced every year, almost equivalent to
heavy-weight shopping bags.” the weight of the entire human population.
Minister Enoch said this Plan delivered • Half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once—and then thrown away.
on the commitment made in the 2017 Less than one-fifth of all plastic is recycled globally.
election to develop a plastic pollution • At least 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean each year—which is equivalent
reduction plan for Queensland. to dumping more than 170 wheelie bins of plastic into the ocean every minute.
Ms Enoch said other actions the Palaszczuk • Around 800 species worldwide, including 77 Australian species, are impacted by
Government was taking included banning marine debris.
specific single-use plastic items from • • Over 75% of rubbish that is removed from Australian beaches is made of plastic.
Turtles have a 20% chance of dying if they ingest just one piece of plastic, and over 70%
Queensland Government sponsored of loggerhead turtles found dead in Queensland waters have ingested plastic.
events. • Plastic in the marine environment is long-lived—for example, a 30–40 year old plastic
“All of these single-use plastic items we bag was found in a Sunshine Coast waterway.
propose to ban have a preferred and • Research has shown that 7 in 10 Queenslanders are taking steps to reduce their
available reusable or 100% compostable consumption of single-use plastics when away from home.
alternative,” Minister Enoch said.