Page 4574 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 31 October 2018
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While we have made significant progress in the ACT, reducing the use of plastic is a national issue that requires a national response. First, though, I want to acknowledge that in some cases plastic has a useful and necessary purpose. For example, it helps to protect food and avoid food waste and keeps medical equipment free from germs. Plastic is not necessarily the enemy, and that is recognised nationally, but we need to use it responsibly and judiciously. That is why the ACT government is working with other jurisdictions to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics.
We have supported the development of an update to the 2009 national waste policy, which was recently open for public review and discussion. The ACT government will continue to work with all jurisdictions, including the commonwealth, to help design the implementation of the policy.
We are also mindful of what is occurring in the European Union where the European Parliament has endorsed a proposal to ban ten single-use plastic products, including drinking straws, cutlery, fishing gear, cotton buds, plates, drink stirrers, and sticks for balloons.
I also acknowledge the work being done by the business sector through the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, or APCO. Businesses have committed to national packaging targets, including ensuring that 70 per cent of Australia’s plastic packaging will be recycled or composted by 2025.
Addressing single-use plastic supports the UN 2030 sustainable development agenda, particularly the sustainable development goals. I note that just last week more than 275 brands, retailers, recyclers, governments and NGOs announced a shared vision to close the loop on plastic pollution by signing the new plastics economy global commitment.
These signatories are collectively responsible for producing 20 per cent of all plastic packaging globally and have pledged to eradicate plastic waste and pollution. This commitment builds on a growing momentum internationally to tackle plastics. Moving forward, it would be exciting to see greater Australian participation in these global commitments.
I make a final point on the importance of reliable data: knowledge about what is happening with waste is critical to the development of appropriate and robust policies, processes and strategies to reduce waste in the first place. The new waste management regulatory framework being implemented through the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act 2016 aims to collect data on waste so we have a clear understanding of what happens to our waste. This helps put us in a strong position to deal appropriately with materials such as single-use plastic.
I welcome today’s opportunity to speak on reducing the use of plastic and to outline the actions the ACT government has put in place and what is on the horizon as we continue to reduce the use of plastics. The government, business and the community have made enviable progress, but there is further work to do to look at ways to reduce unnecessary use of plastics in the ACT. I am certainly supportive of the steps
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