Page 1735 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 15 May 2019
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their overall waste output. My discussions with constituents and local businesses in Gungahlin have further proven this.
Aside from Frankies, two other local cafes in Gungahlin town centre have shown a strong interest in and enthusiasm for establishing a re-usable coffee cup zone in the Gungahlin region. Atlas and the Sunday in Canberra cafes have already taken steps to reduce their waste and to transition to more environmentally friendly practices, with great success. They are now eager to make their businesses even more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
All three of these cafes—Frankies at Forde, Atlas, and Sunday in Canberra—have made clear to me their great excitement at the prospect of a re-usable cup zone in Gungahlin. The people of Gungahlin want to see more environmentally friendly practices in their region, and many of Gungahlin’s local businesses are interested and willing to make the change. They just need the support and certainty that a re-usable coffee cup zone will provide both to businesses and to consumers.
Here in the ACT we are fortunate to live surrounded by our beautiful natural environment and wildlife. But our levels of waste, particularly plastic waste, are incredibly harmful to that environment. The evidence on this is clear and irrefutable. It is important that we recognise that where there is plastic and waste there is change to be made, and it means taking meaningful, tangible action to make those changes.
The ACT must continue to lead the way in sustainability and plastic and waste reduction. It is time for us to address and meaningfully tackle the waste produced by disposable single-use coffee cups. This motion, with the support of ACT Labor, will be another vital step forward for ACT Labor in honouring and increasing our commitment to environmental sustainability. I encourage all members to join me in taking this important step and in continuing to identify meaningful ways to reduce plastic use and waste in the ACT. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (4.08): I welcome, as always, focus on reducing unnecessary consumption and waste. Single-use, disposable items come at a high cost to the community and the environment, and there are viable alternatives that provide better outcomes. As technology improves and our awareness improves, those viable alternatives are in fact increasingly available and cost effective.
In my role as the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, I note that the ACT government is focused on helping the community to avoid, re-use and reduce waste through varied programs and campaigns available for the community and businesses. There are over 1,000 businesses across the ACT and Queanbeyan participating in the Actsmart business recycling program, which provides free advice, education and signage to assist with reducing waste and increasing recycling. With dedicated support from the Actsmart team, accredited businesses have all achieved reductions in waste to landfill, some by over 90 per cent. The program also encourages businesses to look at additional initiatives like their purchasing practices so that they can reduce waste, including single-use items.
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