Workshops for ideas to reduce single-use plastics

Western Australians are being encouraged to attend workshops across the State to help guide the next steps in the McGowan Government’s action on plastic waste.

From May 20 to July 8, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) will run 10 workshops to gather ideas from the community and businesses on how to reduce single-use plastics and their impacts on the environment, waste facilities and human health.

It follows the recent release of the ‘Let’s not draw the short straw – reduce single-use plastics’ issues paper and online survey which asks for community feedback.

The issues paper aligns with the whole-of-government target for ‘a liveable environment’ as part of the State’s Our Priorities program to address important issues facing Western Australia.

Last year, the State Government banned the supply of lightweight plastic bags and instructed government agencies to stop buying avoidable single-use plastic items such as cups, straws and cutlery. A container deposit scheme to reduce litter and boost recycling is set to start in early 2020.

The metropolitan single-use plastics workshops will be held in Perth, Cockburn and Joondalup; and regionally in Albany, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome.

Register for a workshop online or by phoning (08) 9271 7166. The issues paper and online survey are available on DWER’s website.

As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:

“I encourage Western Australians concerned about the environmental impacts of plastic to attend the workshops and help us with practical ways to avoid single-use plastics and reduce plastic waste.

“Single-use plastic products and packaging are commonly littered and have harmful impacts on our environment and wildlife.

“There are lots of ways we can avoid or minimise our use of plastics.

“We are keen to hear the community’s ideas around how we go about changing our behaviour to reduce our single-use plastics and packaging.”

Single-use plastics workshops