2021-02-27
The Victorian Greens have welcomed the state government’s announcement that it will ban a range of single-use plastics by 2023, but say they plan to push for more when the legislation is brought to Parliament.
The Greens, alongside many community groups and leaders, have been pushing for a ban on single-use plastics for many years.
The ban will do away with a range of pointless plastics pollutants, many of which can’t be recycled and have re-usable alternatives. These plastics currently end up in landfill, or worse, in our waterways and oceans, killing marine life and taking countless lifetimes to break down.
The government plans to ban single-use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers, polystyrene food and drink containers, and cotton buds. This is a great start, but the Greens have vowed to push them to go further.
The Greens will seek to amend the forthcoming legislation to ensure other single-use plastics are also banned like fruit wrapped in plastic, produce barrier bags, and fruit stickers. These all have reusable and compostable alternatives that need to be made readily available in shops.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“There are so many reusable, compostable and recycled alternatives to these non-recyclable and unnecessary single-use plastics. We are so pleased to see the government finally recognise the need to transition our community to low waste practices that protect our planet.
“When I walk through the fruit and vegetable section of the supermarket, like so many others, I am horrified to see fruit wrapped in plastic. It's so needless and wasteful.
“A marine creature is killed every thirty seconds by plastics. Together with the pressures of climate change, our ocean creatures face dire consequences without bold action now.
“Banning pointless plastics that end up in landfill or as waterway pollution is critical for protecting our precious marine life, our pristine beaches and our planet.”