❓ The Minister for Environment outlines WA's plan to ban single-use plastics, highlighting its ambition and comparison to other states, emphasizing education and collaboration over enforcement.
AnsweredQoN 393Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
393. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to reducing the impact of plastic waste and
litter on our environment by fast-tracking
WA's plan for plastics. Can the minister advise the house on how Western Australia's record on reducing plastic waste compares with the rest of
the country?
393. Ms C.M. COLLINS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to reducing the impact of plastic waste and
litter on our environment by fast-tracking
WA's plan for plastics. Can the minister advise the house on how Western Australia's record on reducing plastic waste compares with the rest of
the country?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Hillarys for
her question and her local advocacy for the environment. Single-use plastics are a scourge on the environment, without doubt.
If it cannot be re-used or recycled, it should not be made. That is the view of the McGowan government and why I have
sought to build on the work of my predecessor in this portfolio , Hon Stephen
Dawson, who launched a very broad-ranging and ambitious ban on single-use
plastics late last year. Shortly after the election result, we sought to
fast-track that plan, which means that Western Australia will be banning a broader
range of single-use plastics earlier than other states.
Single-use
plastics like straws, cups, plates and bowls end up in our oceans and do
immense damage to marine life . They end up in riverways as litter. It
costs millions of dollars for clean-up, restoration and repair. Volunteers are
out all the time cleaning up our riverways, picking up people's
rubbish. We want to take single-use plastics out of the waste stream.
The first stage of the ban will be implemented at the end of
this year via regulations; that is, bowls, cups, cutlery, straws, thick plastic
bags, polystyrene food containers and helium balloon releases will all be
banned. We are not interested in using a big
stick; we want to work in particular with small businesses and retailers that
might find t his challenging. We are going to embark on a range of
education programs. For the first six months, there will be no enforcement. We
will take the same approach that we took to the single-use plastic bag ban,
which we saw, in the end, was exceptionally
well received by the community. It is now just part of people's trip to
the shops to bring their own bags. I feel really confident that WA will
be ready to do this.
The second stage of the plan, which
will come into force at the end of 2022—so in 18 months—will
include plastic produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene
packaging, microbeads and oxo-degradable plastic and takeaway coffee cups and lids. Most of the takeaway coffee cups that
people use are not recyclable or biodegradable , but there are
biodegradable alternatives available for people to use now. We are encouraging
people to make that change or buy a keep
cup. Again, we will take the same approach around education and compliance.
This will make WA a leader in this
field. According to WWF Australia, WA outstrips any other state on banning
single-use plastics.
This builds on the work that we are
doing with the container deposit scheme, which has now seen over 360 million
containers recycled and $2 million returned to community groups and charities.
This government is committed to cleaning up our environment and has a strong
track record on recycling. If it is not recyclable or re-usable, it should not
be made!
The SPEAKER : The member for
North West Central with the last question.
her question and her local advocacy for the environment. Single-use plastics are a scourge on the environment, without doubt.
If it cannot be re-used or recycled, it should not be made. That is the view of the McGowan government and why I have
sought to build on the work of my predecessor in this portfolio , Hon Stephen
Dawson, who launched a very broad-ranging and ambitious ban on single-use
plastics late last year. Shortly after the election result, we sought to
fast-track that plan, which means that Western Australia will be banning a broader
range of single-use plastics earlier than other states.
Single-use
plastics like straws, cups, plates and bowls end up in our oceans and do
immense damage to marine life . They end up in riverways as litter. It
costs millions of dollars for clean-up, restoration and repair. Volunteers are
out all the time cleaning up our riverways, picking up people's
rubbish. We want to take single-use plastics out of the waste stream.
The first stage of the ban will be implemented at the end of
this year via regulations; that is, bowls, cups, cutlery, straws, thick plastic
bags, polystyrene food containers and helium balloon releases will all be
banned. We are not interested in using a big
stick; we want to work in particular with small businesses and retailers that
might find t his challenging. We are going to embark on a range of
education programs. For the first six months, there will be no enforcement. We
will take the same approach that we took to the single-use plastic bag ban,
which we saw, in the end, was exceptionally
well received by the community. It is now just part of people's trip to
the shops to bring their own bags. I feel really confident that WA will
be ready to do this.
The second stage of the plan, which
will come into force at the end of 2022—so in 18 months—will
include plastic produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene
packaging, microbeads and oxo-degradable plastic and takeaway coffee cups and lids. Most of the takeaway coffee cups that
people use are not recyclable or biodegradable , but there are
biodegradable alternatives available for people to use now. We are encouraging
people to make that change or buy a keep
cup. Again, we will take the same approach around education and compliance.
This will make WA a leader in this
field. According to WWF Australia, WA outstrips any other state on banning
single-use plastics.
This builds on the work that we are
doing with the container deposit scheme, which has now seen over 360 million
containers recycled and $2 million returned to community groups and charities.
This government is committed to cleaning up our environment and has a strong
track record on recycling. If it is not recyclable or re-usable, it should not
be made!
The SPEAKER : The member for
North West Central with the last question.
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