2016-10-03
Greens push for Council action on plastic pollution
Greens candidates standing for Maribyrnong Council at the upcoming election have put forward a plan to tackle plastic waste and reduce compostable food scraps going to landfill, in an effort to reduce pollution and lower landfill emissions.
Simon Crawford, candidate for Yarraville Ward, said, "In the 21st century, why do we still accept that our waterways are polluted? We need to take strong action as a council to reduce our local impacts and ensure the Maribyrnong River and local creeks are pollution-free for everyone to enjoy."
The Greens' proposal includes upgrading curbside recycling to include soft plastics like bread bags and plastic bags, allowing food scraps to be disposed of in council green waste bins, working towards a plastic bag free Maribyrnong, and a 'BYO H2O' water bottle initiative.
The Greens also want Council to reduce plastic waste in its own operations city-wide, and to establish a plastic reduction events and marketing policy to reduce single-use plastic at Council-run and Council-funded events.
"Maribyrnong locals want our streets, waterways and parks to be pollution free and clean. If elected, I want to see Council take a leadership role and provide smart, 21st century waste management solutions to keep our city clean and green," said Crawford.
This local plan works alongside the Victorian Greens’ Plastic Free Sea campaign, which is working to reduce plastic waste through a state-wide ban on plastic bags, excessive fresh produce packaging and cosmetic microbeads.
See attached PDF for full details of the Maribyrnong Greens candidates' priorities for local plastic waste and landfill reduction.
Media contact: Georgia Webster, 0412 554822 / georgia.webster@vic.greens.org.au