Plastic pollution is long lasting, pervasive and cumulative. The damage is growing, but so is the action.

Hardly a week goes by without a new headline about plastic pollution in the environment and the human body. It’s long lasting, pervasive and cumulative. The damage is growing and unacceptable. Governments are beginning to respond, despite the inevitable objections from vested interests.

NSW has taken the Australian lead with its Plastic Plan 2.0. Along with the progressive banning of 24 single use items, it is now focussing on some ready-made microplastics, such as microfibres from clothing, that pour into the waterways via washing machines and the sewerage system.  A filtration standard will be developed for washing machines. One pollutant that requires additional attention is artificial grass coming off new sports fields, being increasingly found by our AUSMAP program.

Persistence will be key to ending plastic pollution.

An outstanding part of the government plan is to introduce regulations requiring reusables cups, particularly at major venues and events. We can no longer rely on pilot programs and need to mainstream the practice.  

The other big plastic agenda is packaging. Regulatory reform is backed by a broad coalition of producers, recyclers and environment groups (led by the Boomerang Alliance). However, the federal government is procrastinating, concerned about cost of living impacts and the perceived political repercussions. This is despite the current expense of waste disposal imposed on households and that, without mandatory recycled content targets, our domestic recycling facilities could collapse. That would make the REDcycle soft plastics scandal a minnow by comparison in public outrage.

We are keeping the pressure up. 

We are working with local councils, community groups and citizen science surveys to track and act on the sources of plastic pollution and continuing to develop and lobby for effective government responses across the wide range of plastic pollutants. This is a campaign where our persistence will be essential.