AusLeisure

From 1st May, Zoos Victoria is banning all single-use plastics from Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary in an effort to move towards zero public waste going to landfill.

Single-use plastic bottled water and soft drinks, along with straws and plastic bags, will no longer be used or sold.

Zoos Victoria is leading by example to reduce Victorians’ impact on the environment, advance the sustainable use of resources and help protect marine wildlife.

Plastic pollution is an urgent environmental problem that is having a significant impact on marine wildlife – each year Zoos Victoria’s Marine Response Unit deals with an increasing number of callouts to marine wildlife in distress.

Zoos Victoria is Victoria’s leading zoo-based conservation organisation - this move is part of a broader effort to influence visitors and other organisations to make positive changes towards a greener, more wildlife-friendly future.

Announcing the ban, Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio stated “this is a great outcome for the environment and builds on the work our Zoos already do protect marine wildlife and promote conservation.

“We’re investing in initiatives that maximise recycling and reduce the amount of material that goes to landfill – it’s fantastic to see Zoos Victoria taking strong leadership to help achieve that goal.”

From June this year, the three Zoo properties will have a new three-bin waste system available to the public – organics, comingled and soft-plastics, such as single-use food wrappers – so no public waste goes to landfill.

Soft plastics will be recycled in Victoria through a circular economy arrangement where Zoos Victoria will buy back products made from the plastics it recycles.

The Victorian Government is banning single-use, lightweight plastic shopping bags in Victoria from November.

Minister D’Ambrosio added “plastic pollution is an urgent environmental problem - that’s why we’re banning single-use, lightweight plastic shopping bags by the end of the year."

Image courtesy of Ron Prendergast, Melbourne Zoo.

Related Articles

28th April 2019 - Melbourne Zoo orangutan makes second escape

18th March 2019 - Plastic drinking cups removed from Sydney Showground

22nd March 2019 - Rottnest Island supports initiative to reduce plastic waste

19th January 2019 - New African experience comes to Werribee Open Range Zoo 

12th January 2019 - 1Rebel becomes first gym chain to ban plastic bottles

19th November 2018 - Airlie Beach Festival of Music goes plastic free

12th September 2018 - Spark Arena rolls out Zero Waste Strategy

28th May 2018 - Zoos and aquariums look to reduce plastic waste

27th February 2018 - Swamped with marine garbage, popular Bali beaches require massive daily clean up

8th June 2017 - SEA LIFE Melbourne celebrates World Oceans Day to spread important message

2nd July 2014 - Werribee Open Range Zoo opens Bandicoot Hideout

3rd August 2011 - Melbourne Zoo rejects palm oil executive’s claim of orangutan distress

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.