❓ Ms. Baker asks about the progress of phasing out single-use plastics in WA. The Minister for Environment responds positively, highlighting achievements, future plans, and community support.
AnsweredQoN 46Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SINGLE-USE
PLASTICS
46. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented commitment to protect the environment and
reduce single-use plastics in our community. Can the minister update us on the
phasing out of single-use plastic items and the impact this will have on our
environment?
PLASTICS
46. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented commitment to protect the environment and
reduce single-use plastics in our community. Can the minister update us on the
phasing out of single-use plastic items and the impact this will have on our
environment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the opportunity
to do that. I am excited to respond, and very excited about what this government is achieving in the phasing out of
single-use plastics. I thank the member for Maylands for her advocacy and support of the environment through what we are doing.
As
members will know, Western Australia's Plan for Plastics involves the
phasing out of single-use plastics. We have seen that already with lightweight
plastic bags at supermarkets. On 1 January, the government phased out a group
of single-use plastics, including plastic bowls, cups for cold beverages,
plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, polystyrene food containers, thick plastic
bags and the release of helium balloons. That has been received with great
support from the community and with the cooperation of retailers and industry.
Stage 2 of the government's Plan for Plastics involves the withdrawal
from sale of a range of items, including plastic barrier or produce bags,
cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, microbeads,
oxo-degradable plastics, and takeaway coffee cups and lids.
Great
progress has been made in the phasing out of single-use plastics and I mentioned
plastic bags from supermarkets . Containers for Change, one of the most
successful beverage container deposit schemes in the country, has been
introduced in Western Australia. These measures have prevented many millions of
plastic bags and containers for beverages becoming litter or going to landfill.
We
know that plastic waste can harm wildlife and frequently becomes litter and can
contaminate the recycling process. Plastic is also increasingly entering the
human food chain. Microplastics break down and persist in the environment for
decades. They pose a public health risk. Western Australians have told us they
want to reduce single-use plastics, with 98 per cent of those surveyed
supporting further action. The government is listening and we are taking
effective action.
On the weekend, my
daughter celebrated her fourteenth birthday and we had a houseful of
14-year-old girls, a couple of dozen of them, running around. In the
past, an event like that would have had plastic everywhere. It would have had
plastic plates, plastic bowls, plastic cups and plastic forks. I was gratified
to examine what was happening in front of me. The girls were drinking from
cardboard containers. They were eating their birthday cake with bamboo forks
and the pizza was on paper or cardboard plates. It might not have been the
healthiest or most nutritious event, but it was certainly healthy for the
environment.
This is a very successful program.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Did they
have a pi�ata?
Mr R.R. WHITBY : No, there was
no pi�ata!
The government is introducing this
process. It is phased and sensible and it involves the support of retailers and
industry. We are taking our time to get this right. Western Australia has been
acknowledged as the number one jurisdiction in the country for its work. It has
been recognised by the Wildlife Fund of Australia for two years in a row for
its work in phasing out single-use plastics. It is a great success story. I acknowledge
everyone's input and the wide range of stakeholders who contribute to
make this happen in a very practical, sensible and measured way. It has huge
community support and we look forward to introducing the rest of the phase-out
process.
to do that. I am excited to respond, and very excited about what this government is achieving in the phasing out of
single-use plastics. I thank the member for Maylands for her advocacy and support of the environment through what we are doing.
As
members will know, Western Australia's Plan for Plastics involves the
phasing out of single-use plastics. We have seen that already with lightweight
plastic bags at supermarkets. On 1 January, the government phased out a group
of single-use plastics, including plastic bowls, cups for cold beverages,
plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, polystyrene food containers, thick plastic
bags and the release of helium balloons. That has been received with great
support from the community and with the cooperation of retailers and industry.
Stage 2 of the government's Plan for Plastics involves the withdrawal
from sale of a range of items, including plastic barrier or produce bags,
cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, microbeads,
oxo-degradable plastics, and takeaway coffee cups and lids.
Great
progress has been made in the phasing out of single-use plastics and I mentioned
plastic bags from supermarkets . Containers for Change, one of the most
successful beverage container deposit schemes in the country, has been
introduced in Western Australia. These measures have prevented many millions of
plastic bags and containers for beverages becoming litter or going to landfill.
We
know that plastic waste can harm wildlife and frequently becomes litter and can
contaminate the recycling process. Plastic is also increasingly entering the
human food chain. Microplastics break down and persist in the environment for
decades. They pose a public health risk. Western Australians have told us they
want to reduce single-use plastics, with 98 per cent of those surveyed
supporting further action. The government is listening and we are taking
effective action.
On the weekend, my
daughter celebrated her fourteenth birthday and we had a houseful of
14-year-old girls, a couple of dozen of them, running around. In the
past, an event like that would have had plastic everywhere. It would have had
plastic plates, plastic bowls, plastic cups and plastic forks. I was gratified
to examine what was happening in front of me. The girls were drinking from
cardboard containers. They were eating their birthday cake with bamboo forks
and the pizza was on paper or cardboard plates. It might not have been the
healthiest or most nutritious event, but it was certainly healthy for the
environment.
This is a very successful program.
Mr D.A. Templeman : Did they
have a pi�ata?
Mr R.R. WHITBY : No, there was
no pi�ata!
The government is introducing this
process. It is phased and sensible and it involves the support of retailers and
industry. We are taking our time to get this right. Western Australia has been
acknowledged as the number one jurisdiction in the country for its work. It has
been recognised by the Wildlife Fund of Australia for two years in a row for
its work in phasing out single-use plastics. It is a great success story. I acknowledge
everyone's input and the wide range of stakeholders who contribute to
make this happen in a very practical, sensible and measured way. It has huge
community support and we look forward to introducing the rest of the phase-out
process.
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