MEDIA RELEASE: 17 October, 2018

Today's passing of Ian Kiernan is a great loss to the Australian community.  Boomerang Alliance Director, Jeff Angel, reflects on a life dedicated to preserving Australia's environment.

MEDIA RELEASE - 9 October 2018

Boomerang Alliance has taken the first step to bring its highly successful Communities Taking Control (CTC) program to WA by joining forces with the Town of Bassendean, as part of an ambitious initiative to create ‘Plastic Free Bassendean’.   The program will work alongside Bassendean Council over a 12-month period, engaging the business community to review supply chains and provide much needed support in making the transition away from single-use plastics.

Business, industry and the not-for-profit sector joined the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation* (APCO) in Melbourne on September 26^th to mark the official announcement of the Federal Government’s targets for managing the growing mountain of plastic waste and pollution generated by the packaging industry. 

The announcement from our newly minted Federal Environment Minister, Melissa Price, comes in the wake of a ‘perfect storm’ of indisputable evidence highlighting the global damage being caused by plastic entering the environment which has reached a deafening crescendo over the past twelve months. The issue has been further compounded by China’s ban on imported plastic waste imposed in January which has shone a bright light on Australia’s inadequate capacity to manage its own plastic footprint. 

Image credit: Lars Frantzen (Wiki)

Norway is often billed as a guiding light in the international war on plastic waste.

With their container deposit scheme frequently reported as ‘the best in the world’, thanks to an often quoted 97 per cent recycling rate (based on 598, 355, 791 bottles and containers recycled in 2016*) the international community is training their focus on the Scandinavian nation in an attempt to replicate this success.

And this effort has never been more significant than in the wake of China’s decision to quit importing 24 categories of recyclable materials, including many common plastics used in consumer goods.

Now while waste stockpiles continue to rise in Australia as state and federal bodies struggle to cooperate and coordinate an appropriate recycling infrastructure, Norway’s system appears to run like clockwork.

So what can we learn from the land of the midnight sun and the birthplace of TOMRA reverse vending technology?

Atle Hamar, State Secretary for the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, is immensely proud of the country's soaring container deposit scheme success rate - and can’t fathom why Victoria and Tasmania continue to dither and dodge the system.

‘It's is so simple and very effective while being good for the environment, therefore good for the economy,’ he says, ‘I fail to see why any governing body would refuse to accept such measures. It makes no sense to me.’

Speaking to Boomerang Alliance from Oslo, Mr Hamar charts the implementation of the scheme in the early Seventies along with the introduction of a state environment tax and the overwhelming national support.

Delivering expert counsel and advice to Victoria and Tasmania regarding their failure to implement a container deposit scheme, he implores the two recalcitrant states to 'reconsider their position', and encourages supporters to never give up the fight.

Mr Hamar also goes on to explain the overwhelming merits behind international waste exchange in Europe and the recent evolve of plastic packaging in his country.

And the Scandinavian statesman casts his opinion on the Coles plastic bag fiasco – and offers his take if a similar debacle occurred in Norway.

Hitting the beach with his two year-old son Banjo, NSW Greens MP Justin Field had a horrifying realization. 

‘I grew up on the beach picking up shells,’ he recalls, ‘but my son, he picks up plastic. And that is the difference in one generation.’

The Greens NSW member for legislative council, Justin is the spokesperson for fair trade finance, small business, trade, treasury and sport.

But ultimately, his passion resides in the health of the marine environment.

And earlier this winter, Justin visited remote Lord Howe Island where plastic pollution is insidiously infecting the natural environment.

A UNESCO heritage site of global natural significance 780 kms north east of Sydney, this once pristine tiny landmass is being pounded by an unrelenting tide of marine plastic sweeping from Australia’s east coast. And the impact on the island’s increasingly decimated shearwater population is providing an alarming barometer for the apocalyptic state of our oceans and marine wildlife.

Following an eye opening and harrowing expedition, Justin spoke with Boomerang Alliance of his firsthand encounters with animals ‘bulging with plastic.’

In the wake of a wave of industrial phase-outs, he discussed the ultimate role of legislation in the war against waste and why altering cultural habit is key.

And taking square aim at the laughable Berejiklian environmental platform while also lambasting ‘disappointing’ Malcolm Turnbull,  Justin gave his take on Labour’s eco promises and the Green’s ever-growing parliamentary influence.

Industry giants and community groups JOIN FORCES to tackle Australia's plastic packaging waste crisis

Australia's retail giants, industry leaders and community groups converged on Bloomberg Australia HQ in Sydney on Thursday July 12 for a unique environment sustainability forum, The Future of Plastic Packaging - Driving Change for Consumer Packaged Goods.

Hosted and facilitated by Boomerang Alliance director Jeff Angel and deputy director Jayne Paramor - in thanks to the generous support of Bloomberg Australia - representatives from environmental and sustainability authorities and organisations met with community groups, leading commercial retailers and industry giants to discuss the future of plastic packaging in consumer goods and the infrastructure holes that need to be filled to improve Australia's capacity on waste collection, processing and recycling.

Plastic packaging is under attack in the war on waste.

At the end of April, Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg announced 'all packaging would be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025'. And while considered an ambitious target by some, Natures Organics CEO Justin Dowel regards the push as 'a joke!'

'It is a joke, to be honest,' he declared. 'Why are talking about 'recyclable?' Most plastics are recyclable! The problem is, we’re not recycling most of the plastic. What we need to be doing is setting targets for recycled plastic, not recyclable. There’s no point recycling if we have no use for recycled.

And Dowel should know. His family-owned enterprise manufactures environmentally sound cosmetic and cleaning brands including Australian Pure, Organic Care and Earth Choice.

Boasting all natural plant-based ingredients and made from renewable sustainable sources, the packaging is moulded from PET recycled plastic, derived primarily from locally-discarded beverage bottles.

Arguably the only company to do so in Australia en masse.

Born from his father's company Trydel Research, originally a contract-filling manufacturer producing bath cubes founded in the Fifties, the eco-conscious Terry Dowel eventually saw a great opportunity in pioneering natural formulations as nobody was doing it at the time. Aged just 21, Justin joined the family legacy in '91 - the same time the company changed its name to Natures Organics - and  dug the business out of receivership,

27 years later, the company now shifts 56 million units annually and prides itself on an endless plastic loop. But the struggle to survive in an industry dominated by megacorps importing from operations in cheaper climes, means the company is under constant pressure to evolve. But Justin is devoted to the Natures Organics eco philosophy, perpetuated by his visionary father.

In advance of his appearance at Boomerang Alliance's The Future of Packaging Forum on July 12 proudly supported by Bloomberg,  the CEO talks tricky retailer relations, federal inaction and closing the loop. 

Think you know how to recycle? Think again as Boomerang Allliance's Jayne Paramor talks to News.com.au through the Do's and Don'ts of recycling

PLEASE NOTE   **Households should always check with their local council's waste handling capabilities**

The Do's and Do Not's of Recycling

Plastic Beverage Bottle

*Take the label off - that doesn't go into recycling bin but can be recycling at your local RedCycle Bin

*Take off the cap and separate it because mixed plastics makes it more difficult to recycle. Place in the recycle bin

*Remove the safety ring [can get caught round the necks of baby turtles] and place that in the recycling bin along with the bottle

Disposable Coffee Cup

*The lid goes into the recycling bin

*The cup is not currently recyclable - fold it up and place in your regular waste

Pizza Box

*Remove remaining food pieces

*Separate part of box with any food contaminant from part of box that s uncontaminated

*Place contaminated piece in regular waste and uncontaminated in the recycling

Wine Bottle

*Remove cap from bottle

*Remove collar from wine bottle

*Place lid, collar and bottle in recycling bin

*Paper Bags

*Remove any handles made from synthetic material from the bag

*These materials can be used for numerous purposes around the house

*Place bag in recycling

Plastic Straws

*Plastic straws suck!!

*They can't be recycled

*Avoid at all costs

*Invest in an alternative - metal, heavy paper, bamboo - even macaroni!!

PLEASE NOTE   **Households should always check with their local council's waste handling capabilities**

June 20 - It's a Red Letter Day here at Boomerang Alliance as Woolworths' highly anticipated lightweight plastic bag ban finally comes into effect - kicking off a tsunami of legislation and industry phase-out action taking place across Australia in the coming weeks and months.

After 2500kms, 10 towns and thousands of collected containers, the successful Big Bottle Tour culminated with special deliveries to the electoral offices of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy - and a PRIMETIME appearance on ABC NEWS.