Palaszczuk Government’s plastic initiatives protect marine life

The Palaszczuk Government’s ban on single-use plastic bags is now less than 40 days away, and Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch said it was encouraging to see initiatives already underway in the Whitsundays to reduce plastic pollution.

While in the Whitsundays region today, Ms Enoch visited Eco Barge Clean Seas to see first-hand the work they do in reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean.

“This not-for-profit organisation do an amazing job in engaging the community and protecting marine life,” Ms Enoch said.

“It’s great to see organisations such as Eco Barge Clean Seas joining in the push to reduce plastic in Queensland.

“We need to rethink the amount of plastic we use and I am proud that the Palaszczuk Government is leading the way to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in Queensland.

“Our ban on plastic bags, and our Container Refund Scheme, will help to combat plastic pollution and the growing tide of marine debris found along Queensland’s coastline.

“Astonishingly, about 75 per cent of the marine debris collected along Queensland’s coastline is plastic waste, which has a detrimental effect on the environment.”

Eco Barge Clean Seas founding chair, Libby Edge said most of the marine debris they find during their regular collections is largely avoidable.

“Whatever litter makes its way into stormwater drains finds its way out to sea and the beautiful Whitsunday islands,” Ms Edge said.

“People can play their part by replacing single-use plastic items with alternatives and disposing of their plastic waste responsibly so that marine life including turtles don’t swallow or become entangled in it. And, if you see rubbish on the ground or at the beach, ‘pick up five and keep the Reef alive’.”

Ms Enoch also congratulated retailers IGA Jubilee Central, which has already stopped supplying plastic shopping bags to customers.

“It’s fantastic to see businesses already making the change ahead of the ban on July 1,” she said.

IGA Owner-operators Belynda Martin and Shane Kinneally said that they took immediate action after seeing the amount of plastic rubbish that washed up after Cyclone Debbie in early 2017.

“The cyclone wiped out all foliage in the area and there was rubbish visible everywhere with so many plastic shopping bags in it,” Ms Martin said.

“We wanted to do our part to make a difference.

“Previously, we were providing customers with around 5000 single use plastic shopping bags every week but switched straight over to paper bags, a range of reusable bags and packing cartons.

“Customers have been overwhelmingly positive about the switch and have enjoyed a greener shopping experience ever since.”

More information about the plastic bag ban and container refund scheme are available on the Queensland Government website.

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