Page 1837 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
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The review found that the act has been successful in achieving its objective. Our ban resulted in a reduction in the consumption of plastic bags by around 55 billion bags in 2017-18 alone. However, the reality is that plastic bag consumption and disposal is increasing due to growth in Canberra’s population and household consumption.
The commissioner’s first two recommendations relate to introducing a mandatory plastic bag disclosure scheme and minimum price for plastic bags. The government has not formally accepted these recommendations and intends to consider any future action on them as part of the discussion on phasing out single-use plastic more broadly across the ACT.
While the government supports the collection of better information to support future decision-making, modelling commissioned by Transport Canberra and City Services shows a mandatory tracking and disclosure scheme like the one recommended in the review is unlikely to reduce plastic bag consumption and is likely to disproportionately impact over 1,100 small businesses operating in the ACT.
There is also a lack of evidence to justify a minimum pricing model like price elasticity modelling. This makes it difficult to know if a minimum price or levy would change consumer behaviour and reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment. For example, if the minimum price is too low there will be no incentive for consumers to reduce plastic bag waste. If it is too high there is likely to be an unnecessary burden on vulnerable individuals and households in particular.
I am pleased to report that the government has already made changes which improve the governance of plastic bag regulation and implement the commissioner’s third recommendation. When the review was undertaken, responsibility for the plastic bags ban was spread across ACT government directorates. As a result of administrative arrangements which came into effect in August 2018, I am now responsible for the regulation of bags, litter and waste management. This arrangement allows me to consider broader environmental and waste management objectives as part of the plastic bags ban.
Finally, the government acknowledges the need to research synergies for compostable plastic and any future food and garden organics collection and processing activities as outlined in the commissioner’s fourth recommendation. Compostable bags are currently exempt under the plastic bags ban. While these bags are useful, they are not a catch-all solution. Compostable bags do not challenge our single-use throwaway culture, and many of these bags are not suitable for composting in other than commercial facilities. This means many Canberrans may be unknowingly contributing to environmental litter if they try to compost these bags at home. Similarly, when these bags are sent to landfill they degrade and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The government is committed to exploring this recommendation further through future planning for a proposed food and garden organics, or FOGO, household collection service. We will continue to provide updates on this important initiative as it progresses.
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