The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has developed a strategy to reduce single-use plastics.
Plan for Plastics (PfP) was unveiled at Perth Zoo, which has treated 88 sea turtles over the past five years, many of which required care following the ingestion of plastics.
The zoo is also home to three Little Penguins, Charlie, Nelson and Gypsy, who presented with injuries consistent with marine rubbish altercations.
All three have eye injuries, resulting in no or partial sight. Eye injuries are common when plastics or other marine debris punctures the eye or as a result of micro-plastic lodgement and irritation to the eye.
Minister for the Environment, Stephen Dawson said PfP would be rolled out in two main stages.
“Regulations will be developed and implemented by 2023 for the State-wide phase-out of plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, thick plastic bags, polystyrene food containers and helium balloon releases,” Mr Dawson said.
“After these initial actions, the State Government will phase-out plastic barrier/produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, micro-beads, and oxo-degradable plastics.”
He said separate to the PfP, the Government was also consulting on an amendment to the Environmental Protection (Plastic Bags) Regulations 2018 to prohibit the use of plastic election bunting signage at polling places.
“This puts WA on a path to become a plastic-free leader among other States and Territories across the nation,” Mr Dawson said.
“The time to act is now; plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to wildlife around the world and, in 2018-19, only 11 per cent of Australia’s plastic waste was recycled with 89 per cent sent to landfill.”
He said he was committed to ensuring that the needs of people with disability, those with health conditions and others who rely on certain single-use plastic items were met.
“We will be consulting with the community to understand these needs,” the Minister said.
The 10-page strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
