❓ Dr. Pettitt questions the Environment Minister about PFAS in compostable coffee cups and their disposal under the new single-use plastic ban. The Minister's response outlines compliance standards and ongoing efforts to manage contamination risks.
AnsweredQoN 739Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SINGLE-USE PLASTICS
739. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I
refer to the media statement titled ''Coffee cups in WA to go
compostable with single-use plastic ban'' of 2 March 2024 and the
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation's 2021 study findings that
nearly 30 per cent of compostable packaging had high levels of PFAS.
(1) Do any
compostable cups on the market in Western Australia contain the forever
chemical PFAS?
(2) If yes to (1), presumably they
can never be composted through the FOGO system?
(3) If they are not compostable,
what happens to those disposable cups?
(4) If yes to (1), does the
government plan to ban single-use cups containing PFAS?
739. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I
refer to the media statement titled ''Coffee cups in WA to go
compostable with single-use plastic ban'' of 2 March 2024 and the
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation's 2021 study findings that
nearly 30 per cent of compostable packaging had high levels of PFAS.
(1) Do any
compostable cups on the market in Western Australia contain the forever
chemical PFAS?
(2) If yes to (1), presumably they
can never be composted through the FOGO system?
(3) If they are not compostable,
what happens to those disposable cups?
(4) If yes to (1), does the
government plan to ban single-use cups containing PFAS?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment I provide
the following answer.
(1) To be compliant with WA's bans,
compostable coffee cups must have achieved either the Australian Standard for bioplastics suitable for industrial,
AS4736-2006, or for home composting, AS5810-2010. To be certified compostable
to either standard, fluorine levels must be 100 parts per million or less. It
is internationally accepted that fluorine levels above 100 ppm is an indication
of intentionally added PFAS. Products that test positive over this background
threshold cannot achieve AS composting certification.
(2)–(3) Currently
the state government is not recommending disposal of compostable packaging into
kerbside FOGO bins while the WA market transitions to compliance with the bans.
The government is working with industry to determine when to allow these cups
in FOGO while minimising physical or chemical contamination risks.
(4) The state government is supporting national
initiatives on packaging reform, including regulation of harmful chemicals in packaging and the development of PFAS standards and guidelines.
This national work will inform any future steps taken by the WA government.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment I provide
the following answer.
(1) To be compliant with WA's bans,
compostable coffee cups must have achieved either the Australian Standard for bioplastics suitable for industrial,
AS4736-2006, or for home composting, AS5810-2010. To be certified compostable
to either standard, fluorine levels must be 100 parts per million or less. It
is internationally accepted that fluorine levels above 100 ppm is an indication
of intentionally added PFAS. Products that test positive over this background
threshold cannot achieve AS composting certification.
(2)–(3) Currently
the state government is not recommending disposal of compostable packaging into
kerbside FOGO bins while the WA market transitions to compliance with the bans.
The government is working with industry to determine when to allow these cups
in FOGO while minimising physical or chemical contamination risks.
(4) The state government is supporting national
initiatives on packaging reform, including regulation of harmful chemicals in packaging and the development of PFAS standards and guidelines.
This national work will inform any future steps taken by the WA government.
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