With reusable cups now being provided at both Optus and RAC Arena in Perth, the Boomerang Alliance has welcomed proposed regulations in NSW. Amendments to the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Bill include making it an offence to:

• sell a takeaway beverage without offering or supplying a reusable cup or cup scheme for the beverage
• charging a fee for a reusable cup supplied by a customer

The most obvious places to introduce a reusable cup system are at stadiums and major events where customers have the opportunity to return cups for reuse. This legislation, when passed, will mean that major locations will need to switch to reuse.

This legislation is similar to laws introduced in Germany, where every stadium in the Bundesliga (that's 52 clubs) provides reuse cups. The same services are provided at large events and festivals.

Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) - now the real work begins...

Podcast:

Dave West explains how planning for plastic can drastically reduce the amount of litter in high density locations entering the marine environment.

PODCAST:

A look into regulatory enforcement surrounding the management of waste by Dave West.

Guest clip by Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue on Operation Clean Sweep. 

Throw away society? Take it back!

Recycling is not a new idea.  It’s been practised for centuries from composting to reusing discarded resources or refurbishing and repairing items.  But things changed during the 1950s and 60s when the combination of new materials such as plastic packaging and the throw-away society started to become dominant marketing forces.  As much as it repels those who support recycling, there was great excitement about having to use household items such as plastic plates and cutlery only once – and then throw them away!  ‘Much easier on the housewife too’, the advertising extolled.  And of course this spread to the outdoors where polluting litter exploded.

The resulting highly visible litter and failure to properly manage our waste started to become the driver for policy reform. There is a famous 1971 Keep America Beautiful advert depicting the way America’s landscape was being despoiled through the eyes of a native American as he peacefully canoes along his local waterway – take a look at The Crying Indian   

PODCAST:

The plastics that have to go - product bans

PODCAST:

Litter in Sydney Harbour - Understanding litter and marine debris.

Leisha Duncan from Boomerang Alliance interviewed Dave West on biodegradable plastic. Is it fact, or fiction?

Deadly - The environmental, economic and health threats of plastic in the marine environment.

RECAST: Catalyst ABC TV - Plastic Oceans

PODCAST:

The Invisible Plastic - Size Matters