A community consultation program has been launched by the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate (TCCS) to collect ideas and suggestions for reducing the use of single-use plastics in the ACT.
The Directorate has published a discussion paper which Minister for City Services, Chris Steel says will be the first step to providing more ways for both the community and business to have their say on the issue.
“Recent figures show that over 23,000 tonnes of plastic goes into landfill in the ACT each year,” Mr Steel said.
“This is quite simply unsustainable,” he said.
“We are going through too much single-use plastic and it’s time we reduce our reliance on these products and move to a better alternative.”
He said many people had already provided feedback, with 298 community members putting forward their views on the best way to manage single-use plastics.
“We are taking real action to become Australia’s most sustainable city and we want the community to be part of that,” the Minister said.
“We will broaden the way Canberrans can provide us with their view on single-use plastics, with the community and business surveys available online.”
He said there would also be a range of feedback sessions where members of the community and ACT businesses could have their say.
Some of the products currently being considered for phasing out include plastic straws and stirrers, plastic cutlery, disposable plastic plates and cups, disposable plastic-lined coffee cups and lids and polystyrene (foam) plastic food containers and beverage cups.
He said other items proposed but not to be considered at this time included plastic beverage containers, other plastic packaging, sanitary items and reusable plastic bags above 35 microns in thickness, including green bags, biodegradable and compostable bags.
The TCCS 27-page discussion paper can be accessed at this PS News link.
