The ACT Government is cutting harmful single-use plastics from more major events in Canberra, including at GIO Stadium and Manuka Oval.
This latest declaration also includes the ‘Groovin the Moo’ music festival at Exhibition Park on Sunday 24 April – which joins several other ‘plastic-free’ public events including the National Folk Festival over the Easter weekend.
“This is another big step in accelerating our city’s shift towards a more sustainable future,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
“Food vendors who operate at NRL and Super Rugby matches at GIO Stadium, AFL and cricket matches at Manuka Oval will now move away from single-use plastic items such as plastic bowls, plates, single-use plastic straws and takeaway containers, swapping them with items made from materials like hard cardboard or sugar-cane mulch.
“This means fans attending football games at GIO, cricket at Manuka or these music festivals at Exhibition Park will easily be able to take action to reduce their use of plastic,” said Minister Steel.
Last November the ACT took nation-leading action by cutting out a range of single-use plastics at iconic Canberra events such as Australia Day in the Capital, the Royal Canberra Show and Enlighten Festival.
This was in addition to the Territory-wide ban on single-use plastic cutlery, stirrers and expanded polystyrene takeaway containers which took effect in 2021.
“Canberrans have shown great support for phasing out single-use plastics, and we’re now working towards identifying more items to add to the list,” said Minister Steel.
Consultation is underway with industry and disability organisations for the second tranche of bans to occur from 1 July 2022 under the Government’s updated Single-Use Plastics Next Steps Policy.
Items currently under consideration to be banned from 1 July 2022 include:
- Single-use plastic straws (with exemptions for those who need them)
- Cotton buds with plastic sticks
- All oxo-degradable plastic products – such as degradable plastic bags and degradable dog waste bags
- Single-use plastic fruit and vegetable barrier bags
