We believe that the primary objectives of a Container Refund Scheme (CRS) should include:

• Grow community benefits by providing sustainable income to charities and other NFP community organisations
• Significantly reduce litter from beverage containers
• Increase recycling of containers
• Create new jobs and business opportunities in resource recovery

Using Your BYO coffee cup or container to your local cafe is quite safe

Just ask the cafe to follow these instructions.

In October 2019, Glen Eira City Council in Victoria engaged The Boomerang Alliance to conduct a single-use plastic reduction trial as part of our Plastic Free Places program. The trial 'Plastic Free Elsternwick', recently finished up, and over the past 6 months, 18 participating businesses eliminated over 25,000 pieces of single-use plastic! 

During the trial, participating businesses aimed to eliminate identified single-use plastic items such as coffee cups, takeaway containers and straws.

Boomerang Alliance staff spent a week in the community in early October working with each business, followed up by regular communication and visits to keep them on track and assist them as needed. Glen Eira City Council provided social media and media support, as well as incentives to encourage participation and behaviour change. 

The trial was successful, with over 25,446 pieces of plastic eliminated during the six-month period (not including plastic bags due to the Victorian bag ban coming onto effect). This is only the start of the plastic savings the program will see over time. 

Notable results include:

• Five businesses have eliminated plastic straws, 2 eliminated plastic cutlery, 3 eliminated plastic coffee cups & lids, 3 eliminated cups & lids, and 4 eliminated plastic takeaway containers and lids.
• One businesses started composting their food and packaging waste, and 3 businesses are using 'swap & go' reusable network 'Returnr.'
• Most businesses are displaying educational signage about the trial and signage to encourage their customers to reduce plastic use. 

Find out more and see our outcomes report at www.plasticfreeplaces.org/elsternwick

Today we welcome the tabling of South Australia's 'Single-use and Other Plastic Products (Waste Avoidance) Bill 2020', which prohibits the sale, supply and distribution of certain single-use plastic products and establishes a framework for adding other products in the future. Plastics currently included in the bill are straws, stirrers and cutlery as well as polystyrene cups, bowls and containers, and all oxo-biodegradable products. 

‘Other states and territories can now follow the South Australian example. Both the ACT and Queensland plan similar legislation, and NSW are currently seeking public views on a plastics ban. Victoria is yet to move, ’ said Jeff Angel, Director of the Alliance.

‘Once again, South Australia is the first state or territory in Australia to act on a serious litter problem. We expect to see a noticeable reduction in plastic litter and waste and less plastic pollution of the ocean as a result.’

These banned items (along with coffee cups and lids, other cups and heavyweight plastic bags) are amongst the most littered items found in South Australia, and they all have a better alternative. ‘

Switching away from single use plastic takeaway is overwhelmingly supported in the community. A recent IPSOS International poll in 2019 (Throwaway World) found that 69% of Australians favoured a ban on single-use plastics, and as soon as possible.

'As our Plastic Free Places program is demonstrating, cafes and food outlets want to do the right thing and are able to switch away from these single use plastics. For instance, our analysis shows that simply removing straws from the counter reduces use by over 80%.’

The bill is available to download HERE

REDUCING SINGLE USE PLASTICS IN NEW SOUTH WALES: You spoke - will they listen?

The NSW government released a discussion paper Cleaning Up Our Act: Redirecting the Future Plastics in NSW on 8 March 2020. The paper sought public views on what action NSW should be taking to address plastic pollution in the State. Submissions closed on 8 May 2020.

Boomerang’s Director, Jeff Angel attended the National Plastic Summit recently and reports some momentum on action was evident, but current commitments are unlikely to be enough. Read about the 5 core actions we advocated and the updates on our other campaigns. Enjoy our latest newsletter!

Boomerang Alliance is running two new trial programs of our Plastic Free Places (PFP) program in Victoria! Would your council like to join?

Alongside Glen Eira Council, Elsternwick (Melbourne) was the first community to get on board, with Mt Martha (Mornington Peninsular) a close second. We’re working with the council and 18 local businesses in each community to assist them to switch away from single-use plastic items, addressing barriers that prevent many businesses from successfully switching. Participating businesses are aiming to eliminate single-use plastics such as coffee cups and lids, cutlery, straws and takeaway containers during the six-month trials. The success of the trials could lead to larger programs.

As part of PFP, we spent a week in each community to assist business owners and managers better understand how to transition away from single-use plastics.

A recent follow up, just six weeks into the trials, have shown that businesses are already making significant changes, with several working to remove key problem items. Not only are we seeing a switch to compostable alternatives, which are much less harmful in the environment, but many participants are now encouraging their customers to reduce their use of disposables and to participate in reusable systems like ‘swap and go’ cup and container network system Returnr.  The businesses have been putting up fun signage  showing the community how to get involved in reducing waste. One business is even making the next step to compost their food waste and compostable packaging.

They are all also bound by the plastic bag ban which came into force on Nov 1 last year, but many elected to switch to paper bags rather than simply swapping to thicker plastic bags.

It’s still early days in the trials, with many businesses still working though old stock before making the switch, but the indications are that the plastic savings will increase as businesses embrace the project.

Boomerang Alliance will continue to support them through the changes.

For more information:

www.plasticfreeplaces.org

www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/plasticfreetrial