Trish Bowman
53 food retail stores have reduced single-use plastic by 100,000 since March 2021 when the Plastic Free CQ program was launched. They are just beginning their journey to eliminate single-use plastics completely from our environment.
Jo Stoyel, spokesperson for Plastic Free Places, said that businesses who have signed up have done a remarkable job to find alternative packaging options and reduce plastic waste. She suggested that they use compostable and reusable products instead.
Ms Stoyel said that this is an incredible milestone for the program and a credit the members engagement.
They have been able, through the program, to find solutions that meet their needs and are now empowered to make sustainable choices about future packaging options.
Plastic Free CQ supports businesses in making more sustainable decisions and allowing them to access more environmentally friendly options from their suppliers.
We also help businesses make better decisions for their business and the environment.
Ms Stoyel claimed that since July 1, 2018, the ban on single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags has seen a minimum 70% drop in litter.
Queensland used about one billion bags per year before the ban. She stated that while most ended up in landfill after a single usage, 16 million ended in our environment each and every year.
Plastic Free Places is a community-based initiative that aims at eliminating single-use plastics within community precincts. The program works directly with food retailers and event organizers and other organisations to assist them in switching to alternative plastics. It also aims at inspiring communities to make positive changes at home and supporting businesses that go plastic free.
Containers for Change, Queensland’s container refund program, was introduced on November 1, 2018. It has made a significant impact on our environment and has been widely accepted by Queenslanders.
The scheme has led to a minimum 35% reduction of beverage container litter in Queensland.
The scheme also offers a supply of clean, source-separated plastic materials that can be reprocessed.
Each container that has been refunded must be recycled.
Our plastic consumption has increased dramatically since the 1970s. In the next 20 years, we are expected to double our plastic production.
Australia now produces 2.5million tonnes of plastic waste per year. This is equivalent to 100kg per person. Only 13% is recovered, while 84% are sent to landfill.
Even more concerning is the fact that around 130,000 tonnes of plastic we use leak into the environment each and every year.
The Plastic Free CQ program is supported and works with both Livingstone Shire and Rockhampton Regional councils and is part of Plastic Free Places – Boomerang Alliance.
Contact Plastic Free CQ online to get started on your plastic-free journey.
Quick facts
Each year, plastic waste is approximately 300 million tonnes in weight. This is almost equal to the entire human population.
Marine debris has impacted around 800 species worldwide, including 77 Australian species.
Plastic is responsible for more than 75% the amount of rubbish removed from beaches across Australia.
Plastic is half of all that is produced is meant to be used once and then thrown away.
Globally, less that one-fifth (or 1%) of all plastic is recycled.
Plastics are estimated to leak into the ocean at least 8 million tonnes each year. This is equivalent of dumping more than 170 wheelie containers of plastic into it every minute.
Research shows that 7 out 10 Queenslanders are making efforts to reduce their use of single-use plastics away from home.
