WPSQ welcomes Qld Government’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan

8 November 2019

Wildlife Queensland welcomes the announcement yesterday (7 November 2019) by the Queensland Government of a new Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan, which includes legislation next year (subject to consultation) to ban the supply of plastic products including plastic straws, cutlery, plates and stirrers, possibly extending to include coffee cups, plastic cups and heavy-weight shopping bags.

This is a great step forward in our next steps against waste!

We encourage and urge our members and supporters to take full advantage of the opportunities to get involved. This is a golden opportunity to enhance our environment for the benefit of society, the environment and wildlife.

The announcement comes ahead of the national Meeting of Environment Ministers (MEM) taking place today (8 November) in Adelaide, where plastic reduction will be a hot topic on the agenda.

View the Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan.

 


 

Media Release: Wildlife Queensland commends Palaszczuk Government’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan

Wildlife Queensland has welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan which includes a proposed ban on single-use takeaway plastics. These are the takeaway plastic items commonly found littered in Queensland, including plastic straws, stirrers, plates, cutlery, coffee cups and heavyweight plastic bags.

The Government’s announcement was made ahead of today’s (8 November) national Meeting of Environment Ministers (MEM) in Adelaide.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s plan to reduce plastic pollution is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Des Boyland, Wildlife Queensland Policies and Campaign Manager.

“Wildlife Queensland acknowledges the Government’s efforts and ongoing commitment in the war against plastic waste, building on the single-use plastic bag ban and container deposit scheme,” said Boyland.

The Palaszczuk Government intends to introduce enabling legislation in 2020 (subject to a regulatory impact statement) to ban the supply of straws, stirrers, plates and cutlery and, following further analysis, coffee and other cups and heavyweight plastic bags.

Wildlife Queensland is calling on the Government to ensure that the proposed ban on all these identified products is enacted in the next 12 months to avoid more plastic waste and more littering of the environment.

Wildlife Queensland encourages and urges its members and supporters to take full advantage of the opportunities to get involved.

“Active participation by the community is required to maximize the benefits presented by this opportunity – an opportunity to enhance our environment for the benefit of society, the environment and wildlife,” said Boyland.

“The consultative approach adopted by the Palaszczuk Government to the mounting plastic waste problem is certainly praise-worthy. Wildlife Queensland would encourage the Government to adopt similar processes in addressing other challenges facing our environment and its wildlife,” said Boyland.

 

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This