The NSW Plastic Plan outlines a comprehensive suite of actions to address plastic at all points of the plastics lifecycle, from production and consumption to disposal and recycling.
The Department of Planning Industry and Environment has developed this plan because they recognise that plastics, while a versatile material, it’s also increasingly threatening our natural environment.
“We strongly welcome the NSW Government’s Initiative in launching the NSW Plastics Plan and support its commitment to phase out single use plastics,” said Managing Director, Patrick Liu. “Our company is committed to providing products which are sustainable substitutes for single use plastics in our hospital system as part of our on-going commitment to improving planetary health."
It states in the plan:
"Hundreds of millions of plastic items are being littered each year, polluting our neighbourhoods, bushland and beaches, and harming our wildlife. Once in our rivers and oceans, plastic can be consumed by wildlife such as fish, birds and turtles, often injuring or killing them. Other plastic accumulates in large quantities, such as in the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’, slowly degrading and releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Nearly every piece of plastic produced emits greenhouse gases at every stage of its lifecycle, contributing to our carbon emissions and climate change."
This NSW Plastics Action Plan sets out the first six actions we will take to achieve these long-term outcomes.
These actions are to: 1. introduce new legislation to reduce harmful plastics 2. accelerate the transition to better plastic products 3. support innovation 4. tackle cigarette butt litter 5. reduce the risk of nurdles (small pellets used to manufacture plastic products) entering the environment 6. support plastics research.
The actions address each point in the lifecycle of plastics. They not only deal with activities like recycling and litter prevention, but also focus new attention on the points of production and supply, stopping plastic waste before it becomes a problem.
OUTCOMES Outcome 1: Reduced plastic waste generation. NSW will introduce legislation to enable the phase out of some of the most littered plastic items. In the below table are some of the Phasing out targets for the most littered plastic items
Everyone has a role to play in reducing plastic. EcoAid has the role of reducing plastics in healthcare by offering our sustainable, biodegradable alternatives.We are delighted that the NSW is establishing new legislative framework to set design standards to tackle harmful and problematic plastics.
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