Today’s announcement by Coles that it will no longer give out free plastic collectible toys to shoppers is a welcome recognition of their cost in long lasting pollution and consumer concern.

The issue of single-use plastics is high up the agenda in 2021 with governments all over Australia introducing, or looking to introduce bans on single-use plastics.

We have been working closely with many state governments to advise on alternatives and to assist food retailers affected by the bans to switch to better alternatives with our Plastic Free Places program. We are also being supported by the Commonwealth Government to create a ‘Plastic Free Beaches’ program, that will see our program extended to all states and territories of Australia. Expect more news soon.

We have begun the recruitment process for the positions of Plastic Free Beaches Community Coordinator, one in Sydney and one in Perth. If you’re a local in those areas and love the sound of working to create change in your community, it might be the job for you!

In July, we are embarking on a 4-month Qld Government appointed tour to present the Qld plastic ban (which starts on September 1) to local community groups and show them how they can make switches to their fundraising and community activities. We’re super excited to get back to our road-tripping, having done similar tours in 2017 and 2018 to talk to community groups about the Container Refund Scheme. Engagement with the local community has always been at the core of the Plastic Free Places program, and we believe that face-to-face interactions are the key to connecting with people and creating inspiring change!

Check out our tour schedule - please share it with anyone you know in Qld who might be interested in attending.

Lastly, our current programs in Adelaide, Cairns, Townsville, Byron and Rockhampton (a newbie which started in March this year) are all going from strength to strength. This year is seeing an increased focus on reusables and we rolled out a successful trial a few months ago with select cafes all over Australia to help them supercharge use of reusables. This will be offered to all member cafes of the Plastic Free Places program, and we will work with them closely one-on-one over a period of one month to help them create new behaviour changes, both for the cafe and their customers. And for those cafes not in our program, we’ll have an online toolkit - that we’ll be asking all of our followers (i.e. you) to share with your local cafes.

Thanks for your continued support!

Back to July 2021 Newsletter page >>

EUROPE VS AUSTRALIA

Back to July 2021 Newsletter page >>

With great fanfare, the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) launched the Plastic Pact (ANZPAC) – a voluntary program involving Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, where businesses aim to reduce their virgin plastic footprint. It largely mirrors the 2025 national plastic packaging targets for recyclable and compostable material; recycled content; and removal of dangerous single use items.

Really, it’s more of the same from the APC which has failed every previous set of targets since its establishment in 1999. It’s why only 13% of plastic packaging is recycled and just 4% contains recycled content. Boomerang released a Plan B, which sets a deadline for making the targets mandatory by early 2023.

Many of the big businesses that signed the Pact, focused on the goal of 100% of their plastic materials being (potentially) recyclable or compostable by 2025. But this means nothing if that does not occur in reality with comprehensive collection and reprocessing infrastructure. By enforcing the targets, we might have some confidence the goal of 25% recycled content and 70% actually recycled or composted – will be able to be achieved.

The only target that will assuredly be met - the phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics items – is entirely due to states passing laws to ban such items – not the voluntary approach!

Back to July 2021 Newsletter page >>

Having opted for the "split responsibility model" supported by BA, the Tasmanian and Victorian governments are now proceeding to develop legislation and a tender process for the separate Coordinators and Network Operators. The split responsibility model separates the management of the scheme from the management of the collection network. This separation ensures that the beverage companies who fund the scheme do not restrain investment in the collection network-thus maximising the container return rate.

We suspect Coke and Lion will still try to pervert the arrangements for collection so that it mirrors their inadequate model - we are keeping a close eye on developments. However, the draft Tasmanian law is close to the strict split responsibility clauses in the NSW scheme and we are hopeful best practice governance will be achieved. Victoria is a bigger prize for big beverage and they no doubt will have their lawyers crafting loopholes for them.

Both state schemes will commence over the next two years, resulting in Australia being the first continent on the planet to fully embrace container refunds. Our next targets are to have wine bottles included and improve the market for refillables.

Back to July 2021 Newsletter page >>

"It was started by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz (the founder of the Plastic Free Foundation) and a small team in local government in Western Australia, and is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world. Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July." - excerpt from Plastic Free July website

We would like to play tribute to Rebecca and her team for their amazing hard work and persistence.  We are very proud that they are one of our 53 allies in the Boomerang Alliance.

There are many ways to take part in Plastic Free July, with your family, household, workplace, school or faith group. If it is your first time doing PFJ you might try to cut out the top littered single-use plastic items (bad SUPs): plastic bags, bottles, straws and coffee cups or if you are really up for a challenge go further and try to avoid plastic in your shopping trolley, wrapping groceries and bathroom products.

So much has changed since PFJ started!

We are now looking at most states and territories having phased out the top bad SUPs in the next two years and more progress by the 2025 national deadline for all packaging to be re-usable, compostable or recyclable. When these changes are implemented we will be taking big strides towards a circular economy – where re-use and refilling becomes the norm and materials stay in circulation and out of landfill.  Keep up the conversation with your friends, families and MP’s about the importance of zero waste. 

Find out more about the National and State/Territory Plastic Plans:

• The National Plastic Plan 
• NSW Plastics Action Plan – brand new!
• ACT Single-Use Plastic and Plastics Reduction Act
• Queensland Tackling Plastic Waste – plastic pollution reduction plan
• Queensland Single-Use Plastic Items ban
• South Australia – Replace the Waste
• Western Australia – Plan for Plastics
• Victoria – Problematic Single-use Plastics Ban by Feb 2023
• Tasmania – Hobart only so far, effective 1/7/21
• Northern Territory – Darwin only – Plastic Wise policy

Back to July 2021 Newsletter page >>

In Australia, every State and Territory has or will have a ban on lightweight plastic bags (<35microns) with NSW finally coming on board in 2022. Before these bans were introduced, literally billions of plastic bags were being used and tens of millions littered every year.

Plastic bag litter has been reducing, for example the Queensland Government reported a 70% decrease in bag litter following its action.

According to Coles and Woolworths, between 70-85% of their customers bring their own bag when shopping. The bans have created a cultural shift in behaviour.  

However, a significant minority still rely on buying a thicker, heavyweight plastic bag. These bags usually attract a 15 cent charge. There is little evidence that the demand for these bags is reducing or that they are being used repeatedly for their primary purpose - as a shopping bag. 

The state and territory governments have recognised the need to address heavyweight plastic bags and are now considering how to deal with them. They remain a litter and a waste problem.

Boomerang Alliance and our allies have put forward a proposal on how states and territories should address the continued use of heavyweight plastic bags. We have called for new regulations to control ALL shopping carry bags, with a program to eliminate single-use bags in the next 4 years. 

Our proposals include:

A ban on the free supply of all plastic bags (any thickness).

Consider a ban on all single-use shopping carry bags (including plastic, paper, woven or recycled) should be banned from use. This includes so-called degradable or biodegradable bags.

Where consumers have forgotten to bring a bag, reusable carry bags that meet a Reusable Standard should be available for purchase. The International Reusable Standard ISO 18603:2013 requires that the manufacturer has designed and made the bag to be reusable so that it can be reused multiple times for the same primary purpose. Other conditions such as minimum 80% recycled content and the provision of collection services for damaged bags to be recycled are necessary.

Thicker, heavyweight carry bags (currently supplied for a small charge by retailers) could be supplied but only at an increased cost designed to deter habitual use. We suggest a minimum $1 with proceeds donated to community groups involved in environmental activities. These bags should be phased out before 2025.

Retailers should report on the number of reusable and single-use bags used each year. This data to be used in any review on the effectiveness of government policies.

Exemptions for food takeaway services could be considered where outlets are permitted to provide a paper bag (without handles) when this is needed. Takeaway vendors are encouraged to find better packaging designs that eliminate the need for an additional paper bag.

Several state and territory governments are considering their options this year, so expect to hear more in coming months.

Back to July 2021 Newsletter page >>

For interview request, please email [email protected]

09 December 2024 - New Poll: Aussies urge environment ministers cut the wrap

02 December 2024 - The Packaging Scourge: environment ministers challenged to act.

21 November 2024 - Consumers ripped off on fresh fruit and vegetables, charged more for loose produce than plastic wrapped equivalent: new report

31 October 2024 - Packaging crisis: producers must pay full cost of recovery.

07 October 2024 - The Boomerang Alliance says Don't Go Soft on Packaging.

26 September 2024 - Cap Hack: Tethered Caps Will Slash Waste and Litter

20 September 2024 - Commonwealth failing on circular economy

17 September 2024 - What's happening with plastic pollution in Port Phillip Bay? 

12 September 2024 - When will major events stop waste and choose to reuse? 

09 September 2024 - NSW Plastic Bans - catching up? 

03 September 2024 - Plastic Ban Solution Finder will help thousands of businesses. 

12 June 2024 -Plastic is Killing Marine Life, Poisoning the Planet & Humans: Thousands Call on Plibersek to Act

12 June 2024 - World Refill Day: Australia is Choosing to Reuse

26 April 2024 - Boomerang Alliance has called on major supermarkets to change soft plastics labels

12 April 2024 - Let's Enhance the Container Refund Scheme. 

29 Nov 2023 - If QLD can do it... Call on states to expand 10c refunds for wine, spirits

1 Nov 2023 - Wine, spirit bottles need 10c refunds

29 Oct 2023 - NSW moves on huge plastic problem

29 Sep 2023 - Soft plastics recovery and recycling takes first steps

25 Sep 2023 - National Soft Plastics Summit: Producers and Retailers urged to fastrack solution

22 Sep 2023 - National Packaging Solution: Producers mandated to take full responsibility for waste & pollution

15 Sep 2023 - Container Refund Scheme must be expanded

25 Aug 2023 - Time for the Reuse Revolution in Australia

28 Jun 2023 - Mandatory packaging targets can turn Australia's tide on plastic

9 Jun 2023 - Major breakthrough in packaging waste crisis

5 Jun 2023 - Australia's plastic ambitions must step up

20 Apr 2023 - Scale of packaging mess revealed

20 Apr 2023 - Cheers to QLD for move on wine, spirits in container refunds

14 Apr 2023 - Container refunds come to Victoria - finally - but challenges ahead

7 Mar 2023 - Supermarkets released timid plan for soft plastics recycling

24 Feb 2023 - Supermarkets first step on soft plastics journey?

23 Feb 2023 - Queensland to ban the release of lighter than air balloons

15 Feb 2023 - Woolworths should supply reusable bags, not paper bags

13 Feb 2023 - National Plan for soft plastics recycling released

11 Jan 2023 - Restaurants should stop serving in disposable foodware

Media Release 2022

Media Release 2021

For all media enquiries and interview requests:
Email: [email protected]
Call: +61 (0)2 9211 5022

Jeff Angel – Director

Jeff is famous for both his uncompromising integrity and his ability to reconcile people and interest groups with no apparent common ground for the good of us all. He's also been a favoured commentator on TV radio and in print for decades. Softly spoken, diplomatic and scrupulous, he is a dogged and fearless campaigner. Jeff has forged alliances between countless factions in government, industry, business, and community, producing one constructive outcome for the environment after the other, since becoming involved in the campaign to protect the rainforests 36 years ago when he was at university studying Economics.  Jeff’s achievements range from pushing policy and legislation to protect clean air, restore urban rivers, conserve our coasts, wetlands and wilderness, combat climate change, reform business and government to embrace environmental sustainability, prevent broad-scale land clearing, save our common green spaces, and more. He is also Executive Director of the Total Environment Centre. Jeff published 'Green is Good' (ABC Books) in 2008 and is a regular and highly respected media commentator. Jeff has been awarded an Order of Australia and Centenary Medal.

Areas of expertise: waste and recycling, plastic pollution, plastic regulations

Toby Hutcheon - Campaign Manager

Toby has worked on environmental issues for 30 years. He started at Greenpeace on the Nuclear Free Seas campaign, dividing his time between the office and the bows of nuclear warships. He was Greenpeace Australia’s first Action Coordinator, managed the Communications Division, and helped initiate the 'green' Sydney Olympics. He moved to Europe in 1996, working on the Chernobyl Campaign for Greenpeace in Moscow.

Toby was the Executive Director of the Qld Conservation Council from 2004-2014, and has tertiary qualifications in education, marketing and journalism. As our Campaigns Manager, he creates the strategies and actions to run our successful campaigns, and works with governments on policy. He believes that we can all make a difference.

Areas of expertise: waste and recycling, plastic pollution, plastic regulations, plastic free places

Kellie Lindsay - Program Manager Plastic Free Places

Kellie oversees the management of the Plastic Free Places program and helps develop the systems and partnerships that drive it. She obtained a business degree before pursuing an environmental career, further obtaining a Master's in Environmental Management. She has managed the program since its inception in late 2016, and prior to this, helped implement successful campaigns for a container refund scheme and plastic bag ban in Qld.

'The key to the success of this program has been direct engagement with our members and the behind the scenes work we do to make it easy for them to switch. We work to support them, to make it straight-forward, and deliver real solutions to these businesses'.

Areas of expertise: single use plastics

Lisa Wriley - Campaigner

Lisa has a gift for working with communities, and extensive experience as an educator in schools. She is particularly sympathetic towards younger students having raised two boys of her own, Lisa can wrangle any age group.

She loves being creative, animating the campaigns with characters and running stalls to engage with the community. Lisa can strike up a conversation with anyone from any walk of life. Her passion for the environment and deep knowledge of waste and recycling issues after more than ten years of campaigning, coupled with a warm and affable manner make her one of the most effective communicators on our team.

With her background in Education for Sustainability, Lisa also helps schools to set up worm tubs for their organic waste, teaches composting at Kariong Eco Garden, and supports waste reduction strategies at Central Coast schools.

Areas of expertise: Sustainability, waste management and recycling, creative ways to communicate campaigns

In an eventful weekend for plastic pollution when two states announced bans on single use items - WA jumped ahead of the pack.

The release of the Plastics and Waste Policies will move the state into a new era of pollution reduction and recycling.

What has South Australia, Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia and Victoria done – that NSW hasn’t? Ban single use plastic items that are polluting our environment and killing marine life. We haven’t even banned lightweight plastic bags when every other state and territory took action years ago!