The Briefing: The epic fail of our soft plastics recycling system
Australia's largest soft plastics recycling scheme REDcycle collapsed last November and last week the scheme was declared insolvent by the Supreme court. Soft plastics collected from supermarkets were sent to warehouses where they’ve been stockpiled for months, leaving consumers disappointed and pushing Australia even further from its national packaging target. So, how far are we from that 2025 goal?
Read moreBoomerang Alliance Newsletter - December 2022
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A new Federal Government – moving from promises and policy to action? The Albanese Government came to power in May 2022 on a platform of change. For those of us looking for more positives on plastic pollution that meant at least a couple of things. Internationally we wanted Australia to sign a treaty on plastic pollution and to take the high ambition path proposed by the Europeans. This looks likely. Domestically we want the Commonwealth, as they promised in Opposition, to introduce new regulations on packaging that makes producers responsible. The recent collapse of the REDcycle collection program, has dramatically illustrated why this is essential. We also need national standards on reusable, compostable and recyclable products and packaging. The standards have to ensure that products marked as such are actually reused, composted or recycled. Lastly, we need more from the Commonwealth National Plastic Plan. For example the Plan announced in 2021, identified bans on oxo-degradable and polystyrene foodware and loose packaging as well as PVC labels. These were supposed to be in place in 2022. As we write nothing has been achieved. It should have a major revision, including mandatory targets. We are looking for more positive leadership and significant policy change from this new government and we will be working to make sure this happens. Jeff Angel |
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The good news is that all state and territory governments have now introduced or plan to introduce bans on many problem single use plastics. However, the reality is that the pace of change remains slow and could be a lot quicker. This is despite the fact that the problem of single use plastic waste is well recognised; the alternative products and practice are readily available; and the public have continued to demonstrate significant support for more action. This year, Western Australia continued its comprehensive policy agenda with South Australia, Queensland and the ACT adding to their policies. For the first time NSW took action, becoming the last state to ban lightweight plastic bags (July 2022) and new bans in November. Victoria followed suit and will implement bans in February 2023. Both Tasmania and the NT have promised to act before 2025. Some governments have published schedules and roadmaps to outline what they intend to do and when. Something we encourage all governments to do. It helps to provide time to adapt to the changes.  |
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We would not have been able to do all these works without you, who support us by making a donation, signing a petition, sharing our social media posts and sending us words of encouragement. We still have much work to do in 2023 and we hope you will continue to support us. |
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Plastic Free Places - Highlights of 2022
The Plastic Free Places program is now operating across all states and territories with the inclusion of our newest programs in NT and Tasmania.
This means we’ve been able to offer support to more businesses, guiding them on what alternatives and solutions are available as they switch away from single-use plastics.
And we've helped them eliminate over 17 million pieces of single-use plastic!
It’s been a challenging year - with plastic bans rolling out across Australia there has also been a rise in greenwashing within the packaging industry, which we’ve had to keep on top of. We have our very own Research Officer whose job it is to ensure our team is up-to-date on any new products and their certifications, to ensure we can advise our business members correctly.
Of course, reuse and avoidance are always at the top of our agenda, and we’ve made some great progress in that space this year with the expansion of our Reusable Champions program. Cairns, Central Queensland and WA have been leading the way in the reusables space and we look forward to seeing this expand to other jurisdictions next year. We’re also just finishing a pilot program called Reusable Hotels to be rolled out throughout Qld next year and our Reusable Offices program is also in development mode.
We’re particularly excited about working in offices as it's an opportunity to change office culture and establish new cultural norms by implementing proven behaviour change strategies. Our aim is to show that if a workplace (as a microcosm of the community) can change, then the community itself, with the right support, can also change. We want to demonstrate that a reuse culture is possible.
You can read more about our year and new programs in our 2022 Progress report.
What’s new in 2023
Our key focus in 2023 will be on implementing behaviour change strategies in our programs that increase the use of reusables and addressing other single-use plastic items still used. This includes:
- More cafes participating in our reusable champions program.
- Addressing back-of-house plastics with members through our new BOH champions program.
- Programs in new locations.
- Organics collections - working with local councils to expand organics collection services to include cafes.
- Government buildings and offices - working to avoid and reduce single-use plastics, increase reusables, and find resource recovery markets.
- A reusable hotels program - working with hotels to increase reusables in all areas.
- Reusable campaigns in controlled locations, including food courts, university campuses, and sports stadiums.
For more information on all our programs, visit www.plasticfreeplaces.org
Time to make a switch to reusable coffee cups
In the next two years plastic coffee cups and lids will be subjected to new rules across the European Union and the UK. Some countries such as Germany will be introducing laws that all cafes offer or sell reusable cups and lids. Other countries are planning a levy on all disposable cups and lids.
With the exception of Western Australia, very little is happening in this country despite the fact that we use an estimated 1.8 billion disposable coffee cups every year. Hardly any of which are ever recovered or recycled, most get littered or landfilled.
The Boomerang Alliance and our allies are proposing a national policy on coffee cups and lids based upon actions being taken overseas. We want to see plastic coffee cups phased out by 2024, every cafe offering or selling reusable cups and lids AND a levy imposed on all disposable coffee cups and lids. We think this is the incentive we need to make reusable and BYO cups and lids common place.
Read our Position Statement on Single-Use Coffee Cups and Lids.
We would like to know what you think and asked you to complete a short survey on coffee cups. The survey has now been completed and joining forces with the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Clean Up Australia, we had 5400 supporters completed the survey. We plan to use the results to persuade our governments to act (at last) to get rid of disposable coffee cup litter and waste.
COFFEE CUPS SURVEY RESULT
New ‘’Flushables’’ Standard an Important Advance
After years of controversy about what can be safely flushed down the toilet; the damaging impacts on the sewerage system and environment; and failed court cases by the ACCC - a new standard* will sort this mess out.
Read moreNew Coles “Reusable Bags” are not Genuinely Reusable
Coles Supermarkets in their recent announcement about using marine plastic waste in plastic bags are undermining their own Together to Zero Waste strategy by failing to meet genuine standards for reusability.
Read moreBoomerang Alliance Newsletter - March 2022
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There’s a lot happening in the zero waste area and since our establishment in 2003 Boomerang has made an impact. Bans on single use plastics are being introduced across the nation; by 2023 Australia will be fully covered with container refund schemes; new bottle to bottle plants are being built; and a global plastic pollution treaty is being negotiated. It’s a good start but there’s more to do. This Newsletter also tells you about our ongoing work to introduce reusables (bags, cups or foodware); the challenge of fruit and veg plastic packaging; expanding Plastic Free Places; and key policies for the upcoming federal election. The momentum must continue. We can do this with your support and strategic collaborations with key groups in business, government and, of course, our 55 NGO allies. The circular economy is not just a theory – it can become reality. Jeff Angel |
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 While South Australia has led the way in most categories of single-use plastic bans, followed closely by Queensland and the ACT, the other states are making ground - especially Western Australia.
See the table above for who has done what and when or who is considering action according to their public announcements. |
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HOW GOOD ARE YOUR HOT CROSS BUNS? MAKE SURE YOUR EASTER DOESN'T HARM WILDLIFE Every year as early as January a product pops up in plastic bags at the supermarkets and stays until Easter... I think you know we are referring to hot cross buns. After the hot cross buns are eaten the plastic bags they came in often go to landfill, and sadly some landfill sites leak plastic due to wind and wildlife like foraging birds. If they end up in waterways then they can endanger many more wildlife. How can we reduce the extra plastic waste and potential plastic pollution created by yummy hot cross buns?
Let's all use less plastic all year 'round. |
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Submissions
30 October 2024 - NSW Plastics: The Way Forward Consultation paper
20 September 2024 - Environment and Communications Committee - Inquiry into waste
reduction and recycling policies
27 May 2024 - Let's Enhance and Expand the Container Refund Schemes
The Boomerang Alliance is calling for the expansion of wine and spirits to be included in CRS, along with the refund to be increased to match inflation. See our briefing note for more:
21 Jun 2023 - Senate inquiry into Greenwashing
The Boomerang Alliance provided feedback on combating greenwash and support the need to include legislative action to help eliminate greenwash in the waste and recycling sector.
6 Apr 2023 - Phasing out single use plastics in the Northern Territory
The Boomerang Alliance provided a perspective on phasing out identified single use plastics in the Northern Territory.
4 Apr 2023 - Northern Territory improving the Container Deposit Scheme
The Boomerang Alliance submitted a joint submission with the Total Environment Centre on further proposals to improve the NT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).
22 Dec 2022 - Inquiry into the impacts of plastic pollution in Australia's oceans and waterways
Boomerang Alliance submitted a joint submission to House of Representatives Standing Committee Inquiry into the impacts of plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways with Total Environment Centre and AUSMAP.
13 May 2022 - Victoria's Single Use Plastic Ban Draft Regulations
The Victorian Government proposes to ban the above items in February 2023. These bans go some way towards Victoria catching up with South Australia, Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia, and New South Wales who have either already introduced or plan to introduce bans before the end of 2022. The Victorian government is now seeking feedback on the draft Regulations and the Regulatory Impact Statement.
15 Feb 2022 - Turning the Tide: The Future of Single Use Plastics in South Australia
South Australia is planning to ban more plastic items adding to the ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery, soon to be expanded to polystyrene cups and containers and oxo-degradable products in March 2022. The SA Government is now seeking views on items including coffee cups and lids, plastic cups and lids, produce bags, bread tags, and confetti.
- Download Boomerang Alliance submission to Turning the Tide: The Future of Single Use Plastics in South Australia
- Download Boomerang Alliance position statement on heavyweight bags
14 Feb 2022 - Northern Territory Circular Economy Strategy
In our submission on the Northern Territory Draft Circular Economy Strategy 2022-27, the Boomerang Alliance has welcomed the NT Government seeking to develop a circular economy on waste and resource recovery. We remain concerned that the NT having acted earlier than most other Australian jurisdictions on a container deposit scheme and plastic bags, has still not acted on other single use plastics. We have urged the NT Government to introduce bans on problem single use takeaway plastic packaging as soon as possible.
- Download Boomerang Alliance submission to NT Circular Economy Strategy
- Download Boomerang Alliance circular economy policy
- Download Boomerang Alliance position statement on heavyweight bags
28 Jan 2022 - Queensland Single-Use Plastics Ban Expansion
In 2021 Queensland banned plastic straws, stirrers,cutlery, bowls and plates and expanded polystyrene cups and containers. The government now proposes to expand upon that list by adding plastic cups and lids, coffee cups and lids,heavy duty plastic bags, cotton bud and balloons sticks, microbeads, bread bag tags, EPS meat trays, plastic wraps on newspapers and loose polystyrene packaging. The government also seeks views on adding plastic takeaway containers, balloons, bait bags and sauce/condiment sachets.
27 Oct 2021 - Draft Standard DR AS/NZS 5328, Flushable Products
The toilet is not a bin and the most important question should not be "can it be flushed?" or "is it flushable?" but "SHOULD it be flushed?"
Boomerang Alliance Newsletter - December 2021
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WHAT A YEAR! Every year brings new challenges, but 2021 brought more than usual with COVID. Nevertheless, we made some big gains working with our 55 allies and many supporters. The big achievements included bringing the 15 year Container Deposit campaign to a close as the two remaining states - Tasmania and Victoria - introduced their CDS laws. Also most states and the Commonwealth are in the process of banning a first tranche of single use plastic items. Notably these two moves are regulatory, leading to real progress compared to the voluntary path preferred by industry. We were fully engaged in the push for a much expanded Australian recycling sector through lobbying of government; participation in top-level forums; and media work to expose tardy practices and inadequate policy responses. Our Plastic Free Places program expanded across the nation showing the way for cafes and consumers to switch to avoidance of plastic and reusables. It's great to see the enthusiasm in the community and business. We can mark 2021 as the year when the first steps to a circular economy were made, but of course there is so much more to do before this fundamental change in how we treat ''waste'' and the environment becomes a reality. We are very thankful for your support and will keep you in touch with our 2022 campaigns. Wishing you a relaxing and healthy festive season! Jeff Angel |
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We have a full year of campaign work planned for 2022.
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Exciting news… On Dec 2nd the Victorian Parliament passed a new law to set up drink bottle and can refunds (CDS) to stop the litter and maximise recycling. At last! It's taken many decades of efforts by many local and state groups and the Boomerang Alliance has been proud to work with them for the last 15 years. Coke and Lion, through their lobby group VicRecycle ran a cashed up, misleading campaign to reverse the government's chosen approach, but we fought back and the big bottlers were rebutted. Our recommended model ("split responsibility") has been enacted. Victoria will now have a scheme that offers the best pathway to greatly increased recycling (including local processing into new products), preventing the flow of plastic and other containers onto our parks and into the waterways and ocean. The government has moved quickly to call for expressions of interest from potential operators of the CDS and it should start by mid-2023. A good end to a difficult year. Many thanks for your support! |
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Plastic Free Places
Highlights of 2021
- As at the end of November 2021, there were seven full-scale Plastic Free Places programs in operation - in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton/Livingstone, Adelaide, Perth, Mornington Peninsula and Randwick, as well as four smaller programs in Camberwell and Moreland (Vic), Douglas (Qld) and Port Lincoln (SA). Five of these programs were made possible under a grant from the Commonwealth Government, with the rest being state or local government funded. Our previous program in Byron Bay ended in July 2021.
- The end of November 2021 totals for the amount of single-use plastic eliminated under the program was just over 9.5 million.
- In each place, our staff worked directly with food retailers to assist them to eliminate single-use plastic items and replace them with reusable or compostable alternatives. Plastic items counted for elimination were water bottles, takeaway containers/lids, coffee cups/lids, carry bags, straws and foodware (cups, bowls, plates, cutlery etc.).
- We have been working closely with many state governments to advise on alternatives and to assist food retailers affected by the ban through the process of switching to better alternatives.
- Our team also developed a program to assist members who want to supercharge the use of reusable coffee cups and takeaway containers within their business. The program was successfully trialled in January in several communities (results here) and continues to be rolled out in our program.
- We developed (and continue to develop) blogs and guides to assist businesses and events outside our communities.
- We were commissioned by the Qld Govt to deliver a series of forums in 28 locations across Qld for community organisations to provide information the single-use plastics ban and give advice on alternative options. In all, we presented to over 500 community organisations. 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 and inspiring change!
What’s new in 2022
- There will be three more programs added in 2022 (in NT, Tasmania, and Jervis Bay) thanks to funding from the Commonwealth Government. This will see our program extended to all states and territories of Australia.
- We will be trialling in Cairns a 'reusable hotels' program, which helps hotels eliminate plastics by avoiding them or using reusable alternatives. Part of this includes providing each guest with a reusable water bottle, coffee cup and bag for them to use during their stay, and linking these items with our existing café and water networks. This helps visitors to our communities participate in efforts to reduce single-use.
- A database of certified compostable items has been collated by our team, which allows for a search by state to show certified compostable ban-compliant alternatives. A database on reuse/avoid alternatives is also being developed. Both of these will form part of a subscription package for councils to be released in early 2022.
- Working with local councils, we will be offering online options for businesses outside of our communities to access our team for private consultation sessions. The aim of these is to help motivated businesses to find alternatives suitable to them, and ensure they are compliant with relevant state bans.
For more information on all our programs, visit www.plasticfreeplaces.org