AusLeisure

The Queensland Government introduced legislation on Wednesday (15^th July) that will ban single use plastics such as plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers and plates in a bid to stem the destructive effects of plastic on marine life and waterways.

This follows the commitment from South Australia and the ACT to introducing similar laws this year.

New South Wales and Western Australia recently completed public consultations that canvassed the idea of a ban on single use plastics. They are yet to announce their plans.

If legislation is passed by the Queensland Government, the earliest date the ban would commence would be 1st July 2021, to give businesses, schools and other facilities time to plan for the changes.

The laws include exemptions for people with disabilities or medical requirements to allow outlets such as pharmacies, and schools and care facilities to make plastic straws available to people who need them.

The legislation also allows for the ban to be extended to items such as coffee cups, polystyrene cups, takeaway containers and heavyweight plastic bags after public consultation.

Public consultation by the Queensland government in March found 94% of people and businesses surveyed supported banning single-use plastic straws, plates, cutlery and stirrers with Queensland Minister for Environment, Leeanne Enoch noting “that’s an overwhelming statement from communities wanting to find a positive solution to reducing plastic waste and protecting our environment.”

Minister Enoch advised the start date was flexible, given businesses would need to source new products at a time when they were also managing the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the introduction of the legislation on Wednesday, WWF Australia ranked Queensland No 1 on a new single-use plastics scorecard comparing policies in Australian states and territories.

The ACT and South Australia both ranked second, with Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory equal last.

WWF Australia No Plastic in Nature Policy Manager, Katinka Day enthuses “It’s wonderful to see the sunshine state leading the way to phase out some of the most littered plastics on our beautiful beaches.

“Plastic items like straws, plates and utensils are often discarded after a single use, ending up in landfill or our oceans for hundreds of years.”

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has congratulated the Queensland Government for taking steps to address plastic pollution in a bid to save marine wildlife such as whales and turtles.

AMCS’s plastics spokesperson, Shane Cucow explained “plastic straws and cutlery are among the most lethal plastics for wildlife like seabirds and turtles.

“Sharp, highly likely to be contaminated and commonly found in waterways, these plastics can cause serious injuries. They get stuck in airways and cause painful internal injuries and poisoning when eaten.”

Following Queenslan's actions to ban lightweight plastic bags from July 2018 and implement a container deposit scheme from November 2018, these proposed laws would make Queensland one of Australia’s leading states in the fight against plastic.

Cucow adds “as custodians of our World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and many other incredible marine environments, Queensland has a sacred responsibility to protect our iconic ocean wildlife.

Cucow said it was important the laws were quickly expanded to ban other lethal single use plastics including plastic cups, fruit and veggie bags, balloons, plastic takeaway containers and heavyweight plastic bags.

“With earth friendly alternatives now widely available, it’s time to ditch killer plastics throughout all of Australia.”

Related Articles

26th June 2020 - WISE thanked for eliminating 300,000 single use plastic cups from landfill during FIRE FIGHT concert

31st March 2020 - Replas develops new recycled and customised plastic Sports Themed Seats

11th March 2020 - New CSIRO research shows ocean plastic returning to Australian coastlines

16th February 2020 - Second South Australian business goes plastic free

16th February 2020 - Wellington’s Round the Bays event eliminates plastic bottles

5th February 2020 - adidas creates sustainable sporting field using 1.8 million plastic bottles

3rd February 2020 - ACT takes action to phase out single-use plastic products

23rd January 2020 - Global tourism initiative to combat plastic pollution

30th December 2019 - National plastics summit set to address Australia’s growing waste problem

14th December 2019 - Fremantle swim event goes plastic free

9th December 2019 - MCG looks to boost sustainability with ban on plastic plates and cutlery

9th December 2019 - New Zealand Government commits to next steps on plastic waste management

13th November 2019 - PATA to present webinar on reducing plastic pollution

7th November 2019 - Australian Marine Conservation Society welcomes Queensland government proposal to ban single-use plastics

22nd August 2019 - Australian Turf Club to end single-use beverage plastics for Everest Carnival

17th August 2019 - Ekka showbag sellers face pressure to reduce single-use plastic

1st August 2019 - Zoggs expands environmental commitments with swimwear made from plastic waste and reduction in plastic goggle packaging

18th July 2019 - Zoos and aquariums celebrate and educate through Plastic Free July

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.