
The proposal is considering banning plastic cutlery and takeaway containers.
Seven years after the ACT banned single-use plastic shopping bags, the ACT Government is proposing to ban all single-use plastics, saying plastic bags are only one part of a much larger plastics problem.
Under the new proposal, ACT Minister for City Services Chris Steel wants to ban coffee cups, plastic cutlery, cups, straws, lightweight plastic bags, takeaway containers and cotton buds.
A recent review into the ACT’s plastic shopping bag ban said there is no easy solution to Canberra’s “plastic addiction” but estimated that plastic bags represent less than one per cent of the waste going to landfill in the ACT.
It is the Government’s ambition to have 90 per cent of waste being diverted from landfill by 2025, and Mr Steel believes a broader approach to single-use plastic is a logical approach to achieve that goal.
“Our fondness for single-use plastic, such as plastic cutlery, cups, straws, packaging and lightweight plastic bags, has grown considerably,” Mr Steel said. “It is estimated that 10 million straws are used in Australia every day, and can take up to 200 years to degrade into micro-particles.
“Plastic straws used today will outlive your children’s, children’s children.
“Single-use plastics, including but not limited to lightweight plastic bags, are an issue of both public and environmental concern.”
The ACT wants to follow in South Australia’s footsteps after it announced it would consider a single-use plastic ban last month. Mr Steel said South Australia has recognised that there is a clear benefit in addressing the related issues of single-use plastic bags and other single-use plastics, which is an approach the ACT Government supports.
Last year’s review into the Government’s plastic bag ban found the ban was reducing plastic use, but it raised questions over thicker plastic reusable bags, as well as compostable and cotton alternatives.
The report concluded that the ban has had a “marked impact on the ACT’s consumption of single-use plastic bags”, but that plastic consumption appears to be gradually returning to the levels seen prior to the ban’s introduction.
Mr Steel said plastic bags have become a symbol of Canberra’s ‘throwaway society’, and one of the benefits of banning plastic bags was to raise community awareness of broader environmental and sustainability issues.
The ACT Government will release a discussion paper to gauge community feedback around the proposal and will launch an information paper on moving beyond single-use plastics, including plastic bags in the coming months.
“I want the ACT community, businesses and industries to tell us how the ACT should address single-use plastics,” Mr Steel said. “We will consult with the community on banning these products or taking alternative regulatory or other measures.”
Why is that most of the recycling in Canberra is currently going to landfill?
David Brown China is not taking anymore recycling.
David Brown wow! Really? That’s terrible. Why is this happening?
Catherine Ford As I understand it, the Chinese who used to buy it stopped and a new buyer has yet to be found.
Do we really need a ban? Or just encouragement to do the right thing?
Janet Ilchef France did the ban, I’m sure we will survive
Grant Robertson I feel as though Australia can be over legislated unnecessarily
Grant Robertson Interesting about France. How do they provide liquid-proof containers for food, drinks, etc? For example, if someone wanted to buy a take away curry or soup, what type of container would it come in?
Considering the obesity levels, as an example, and recreational drug use and it's associated problems, let alone alcohol, and bad driving, 'encouragement to do the right thing' might be a spot of wishful thinking. Some will always do the right thing , but plenty need a ban and a whole lot of legislation for stuff to get through their heads...
Europe will be imposing the same ban across the whole EU. Yes this is necessary, We survived before plastics. The damage from plastics is far greater than just this mild inconvenience.
Joanne McRae I used to buy take-away soup. Not rocket science, I always brought my own cup to be filled. Easy, easy...
There has been lots of encouragement. Unfortunately doesn't work on many people.
Please do, so many okay alternatives, I used bamboo knives and forks recently, non plastic straws are becoming popular and I believe I have seen at least one recyclable coffee cup.
Yes, I have been using recyclable coffee cups for years. They are made of china or glass and after I have used it they are recycled through the dish washer and used by another person.
its a nice idea but its also pissing in the wind - 90% of the ocean's plastic comes from china and india
Jesse, then we put pressure on them.. the whole of EU is going the same way with this ban, the time and place to start is here and now.
there is a strong argument to be made about well-off first-world countries taking the lead on this kind of thing.
Actually in india soft drinks come in glass bottles that are collected and reused many times over. All brands.
Great idea. Take it out of our environment
Ban please. Lets set an example. Every bit counts!
Scott, why not do both?
Scott Abela Since the problem with China, most plastic is not recycled. Collecting plastic is not the same as recycling. A lot is just being sent to landfill. In some (western) countries 'recycling' is burning the plastic. https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-03-03/recycling-industry-in-crisis-can-it-be-fixed/9502512
About time!
The problem is the law will actually just state a minimum strength of plastic to be used. These stronger plastics could be reused or it could be another case of the shopping bags where more plastic is used and a large group of people still treat them as single use.
Yes do it
Sounds great!
Chinese takeaways will go bust.
Bamboo chopsticks ftw
Martin Budden nah, I meant more for carrying food home in the car. Wokitup boxes I suppose.
Craig Dingwall cardboard noodle box makers are behind this
Brendan Graetz your worst nightmares come true.
A couple of years ago I might have said get stuffed, but I think the urgency in which we need to act to protect our environment is being highlighted and we the population are going to need to accept some inconvenience for the sake of this planet. I’m onboard.
$20 for a kfs from mil shop, sorted.
Bretto Pos I was thinking FREDs all round
Dine in or plan ahead.. If everyone brought along their own containers for the lunch they know they're going to eat, the waste would cut down immensely..
Kim Uriarau I stopped going to soul origin in the Canberra centre because they refuse to fill reusable containers. No justification other than policy. At the very least that should be outlawed!
Elizabeth Baldwin it’s just a company policy.. there is no legislation stating they can’t do it..
This is my community group if anyone is interested in joining.. for ideas, inspiration and support..
Kim Uriarau I know, but there should be law mandating it be an option for those who try to bring our own containers.
Elizabeth Baldwin Businesses that won't refill containers (presuming the containers appear clean) should be named and shamed.
I hope they consult with disability support and advocacy groups before implementing anything.
Valid point.. but the same forethought and planning can apply to the entire community..
It can, but does not in this case.
I agree too much is thrown away but if we get rid of plastic what do we use? Paper, cardboard, wood all comes from trees and we already cut down too many of them. Problem
Reusable containers. I have a keep cup for coffee, a stainless steel straw and reusable cutlery. I take a container with me to grab lunch. It's not that hard
Because China doesn’t want it?
We are never leaving 😍 Ann Mayo
About time. Well overdue. Do it!!
Brilliant news. Let’s do it!