Battle for the best recycling
Stand up for the top scheme, not the one corporations want, says Jeff Angel.
Read moreQld CDS operator under legal pressure
The operator of the Qld 10c Refund Scheme for drink bottles and cans Container Exchange, is being sued for up to $19.5million, according to its recent Annual Financial Report.
Read moreRecycling Plastic Waste
Where does plastic recycling stand in Australia now? Have we become complacent during the days and months of Covid? Are we merely wasting our time sorting out the bins, or is the cause worth making a little extra effort? Indira Naidoo from ABC Nightlife discussed plastic waste and recycling with Amy Westnedge from Wastewise on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and Jeff Angel, the Boomerang Alliance director.
Read moreWe can’t let big beverage contaminate Victoria’s container deposit scheme
As the last mainland state in Australia to introduce a container deposit scheme (CDS), Victoria has an opportunity to make a real difference. The state’s future CDS could be the most efficient, effective and ethical in the country — but only if it is designed right.
Read moreGive the gift of Plastic-Free this Christmas
Many supporters contact Boomerang Alliance at this time of year seeking green ideas for Christmas. This year we have put our focus on gifts that can help you, your family and friends go plastic-free. We've chosen small, less expensive gifts that help avoid single-use plastics when shopping, buying takeaway, at home or out-and-about.
Check out our plastic-free gift guide that features our top ten gift picks.
Read moreWestern Australian plastics plan released
The Western Australian Government released its Plan for Plastics yesterday. The plan sets out the government's plastics reduction plans for the 2020-26 period. More immediate plans include the phase-out of identified single use plastics and other SUPs in the medium term (see below). A key identified initiative is a Plastic Free Places program to be introduced in 2021.
We will be talking with the State Government to confirm their intentions as soon as we can.
Key excerpts from Plan for Plastics;
" The Plan for Plastics will be delivered over the short (2020 to 2023) and medium-term (2024-2026) and will be complemented by voluntary approaches.
Short-term actions to be implemented from 2020 to 2023 include the phasing-out of plastic:
- plates
- cutlery
- stirrers
- straws
- thick plastic bags
- polystyrene food containers
- helium balloon releases"
"Medium-term actions to be introduced from 2024 to 26 include the phasing-out of plastic:
- barrier/produce bags
- microbeads
- polystyrene packaging
- cotton buds with plastic shafts; and
- oxo-degradable plastics (plastics designed to break up more rapidly into fragments under certain conditions)
The plan also includes actions on prepacked fruit and vegetables, takeaway food containers and plastic packaging."
QLD Election: All key parties back plastics ban
In this Queensland election: Which party has the best policies on Plastics and Waste?
This last Term of Parliament has been significant, particularly for action to reduce plastic pollution. In 2017, the Queensland Parliament unanimously voted to introduce a lightweight plastic bag ban and establish a Container Refund Scheme for bottles and cans.
In this current parliamentary term both measures were introduced. To date, government data is showing that there has been a 70% reduction in plastic bag litter and a 54% reduction in container litter. Using your own bag when shopping is becoming the norm, whilst about 60% of beverage containers are now collected for recycling. Over 700 jobs have resulted from the Container Refund Scheme.
We still need to see a big improvement next year, as the CRS must increase the number of collection points to make it far more convenient for everyone, something very much required if a return rate of 85%+ by July 2022 is to be achieved.
However, Queensland has made a positive start on reducing litter and plastic waste. WWF in its recent assessment declared Queensland as the best performing state when it came to tackling the plastic problem. (WWF Plastic Scorecard 2020)
- The proposed ban on certain single use plastics such as straws, cutlery, and plates and bowls, including expanded polystyrene items.
- Food and Organics Collection services in every local government area that had a kerbside service
- Investment in new recycling infrastructure and business in QLD, with the government establishing a new purchasing policy to encourage more recycling
Queensland Labor
Queensland Labor will deliver a bill to ban the supply of certain single-use plastics and undertake further consultation to include expanded polystyrene products. Labor will also develop an Organics Waste Strategy by June 2021. The Labor Government has invested $100M in a Resource Recovery Industry Development Program.
Liberal National Party
The Liberal National Party supports phasing-out single use plastics and resource recovery initiatives such as banning batteries and e-waste from landfill, a solar panel recycling facility and a Centre of Excellence for Resource Recovery in QLD
Queensland Greens
The Queensland Greens support the proposed bans on single-use plastics and will strengthen the bill. A review of waste levy exemptions will be carried out to expand the amount of waste subject to the levy. They support the introduction of FOGO collections in every LGA and strongly support the waste export ban and investment in resource recovery in Queensland. The Greens oppose waste-to-energy facilities for mixed waste and have actively supported Ipswich locals in their campaigns to have these proposals stopped.
Authorised by Toby Hutcheon, Campaign Manager, Boomerang Alliance, 99 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2010
Getting it right on container refunds in Tasmania
Already operating in most states, Tasmania is planning to implement a Container Refund Scheme (CRS) - so it can choose the best type of CRS. We've learnt some lessons from the recent schemes in Queensland and New South Wales, particularly for the needs of urban and regional areas, refund point convenience, cost and charities.
Read moreSubmission to Recycling and Waste Bills 2020
Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission to these important bills. They have the potential to bring Australia’s treatment of waste into a new era of recycling and build towards the circular economy. We particularly welcome clause 4 that embeds the precautionary approach in relation to protecting human and environmental health.
Read moreSouth Australia bans single use plastic takeaway items – who’s next?
With South Australia, the first state to ban key single-use plastic items such as straws, cutlery and beverage stirrers - it’s now urgent other states also move on this plastic pollution, the Boomerang Alliance of 52 groups said today.
Read more