Businesses in Melbourne’s west have welcomed the state government’s ban on single-use plastics.
The ban on single-use plastic came into effect on Wednesday, February 1, requiring business owners to stop handing out drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, and expanded polystyrene food and drink containers.
Michelle Bailey, owner of Melton catering business Graze With Michelle welcomed the change.
“I think it’s a positive change. A lot of people have phased it out a long time a go anyway. For my business, I’ve always chosen to use biodegradable palm leaf platters and bowls,” she said.
“I think reducing waste is important to everybody across the board.”
Another western suburbs business owner, Khoa Ngo, began making changes to his bubble tea businesses about a month ago.
Mr Ngo said the transition was “hard in the beginning“ because he had to spend money buying the new supplies.
“I have a lot of [plastic] stock left and I don’t know what to do with it, at least $1000 worth,“ he said.
“But I know it’s for environmental reasons. I have kids so I know we have to protect the earth for the future,“ he said.
Single-use plastics currently make up a third of Victoria’s litter, and the state government said it is committed to diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.
Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt said the government is “taking action” to protect Victoria’s environment and reduce pollution by banning single-use plastic items and “supporting businesses to switch to reusables instead.“
“Plastic pollution has significant impacts on our health, wildlife and the environment. This single-use plastics ban is a crucial step to protect Victoria’s rivers, waterways and oceans from plastic pollution,” she said.
Last year, the state government said it invested $1 million towards new technology that will turn hard-to-recycle materials like cartons and coffee cups into sustainable building products.
