Plastic fish-shaped soy sauce bottles are one of 14 items that could soon be banned in the ACT. Photo: James Coleman.
Cigarette filters, soy sauce fish and produce stickers are among the 14 items that could be next to disappear from the Territory.
The ACT Government has steadily been banning various forms of single-use plastic since 2011 and has released a discussion paper on the items that could be prohibited under tranche 3 of the program.
The 14 items under consideration are barrier/produce bags, flower bags, produce stickers, coffee cups/lids/plugs, iced-drink (cold) cups, bowls with lids, sauce containers/sachets, soy sauce fish, cigarette filters, bread bag tags, food sticks (such as lollipops), pizza savers, plastic confetti and prepackaged goods with integrated single-use items.
Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water Minister Suzanne Orr said the 14 items had been chosen because “readily available alternatives” already existed.
“Each of them will have slightly different options, but they’re being put forward because we do have an alternative option,” she said.
“These items have [also] been identified … due to their negative environmental impact, including contamination of recycling streams, non-recyclability in kerbside bins, contribution to litter, and harm to wildlife.”
Most of the items under consideration have either already been banned in other jurisdictions or there are plans for jurisdictions to take action by 2028.
There is one item where, if approved, the ACT would be nation-leading: flower bags.
Ms Orr said while every effort was being made to ensure bans were harmonised across states and territories, it was also important to focus on items found to be problematic in Canberra.
“That includes things like flower bags, which you wouldn’t necessarily think are a huge issue, but they’re one of those ones that are very difficult to recycle,” she said.
“We see them going quite a bit into the waste stream … and it’s just one where there are readily available alternatives, so we don’t need to have the plastic one.”
Banned single-use plastic items in the ACT since 2011. Photo: Supplied.
Efforts are also continuing to change everyday behaviours.
The discussion paper noted bans could lead to perverse outcomes, such as the case with single-use alternatives made of paper, bamboo or compostable materials.
“While not made of plastic, these alternatives are still intended to be used once before being thrown out, contributing to a linear economy. Most paper and bamboo alternatives used in food service cannot be recycled due to their size, shape and composition and can only be disposed of through landfill,” it stated.
“As we consider options for addressing more problematic items, including single-use plastics, we aim to apply circular economy principles. This includes exploring where a shift towards reuse may be more appropriate than simply replacing single-use plastics with other single-use alternatives.”
The discussion paper highlighted Light Up Lyneham, where volunteers from sustainability organisation SEE Change encouraged attendees to bring their own reusable foodware, and provided reusable mugs, cutlery and dishes to vendors.
The event saw about 90 per cent of the provided items returned, and a waste audit found the event generated the equivalent of just two household wastebins of rubbish that went to landfill (mostly soft plastics and cups).
Ms Orr said this was an example of where changing people’s and businesses’ behaviour led to a better outcome than simply providing an alternative to single-use plastics.
“[Let’s] avoid making the waste in the first place,” she said.
“If you have to make the waste, do it in the least harmful way possible.”
The discussion paper is open to feedback until 1 May.
Any items proposed for future bans will undergo a 12-week public notice period before regulatory impacts are assessed.
Ms Orr encouraged everyone interested to add their voices to the conversation.
“We want to hear from businesses and the community about what is practical and how government can best support change – whether that is clear timelines, education, or enabling reuse systems – so we can work towards making reusables the norm across the ACT,” she said.
Read the discussion paper and provide feedback through the YourSay Conversations website.
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
