Melton council will investigate banning single-use plastics at council venues.
Cambridge ward councillor Nola Dunn asked officers earlier this year to report on ways to promote a plastic bag-free municipality.
But while bans and levies on plastic bags fall outside the jurisdiction of councils, officers told last week’s meeting they could lobby the state government to ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags, develop a policy to eliminate single-use plastic from council-owned or managed land, work with retailers to encourage a voluntary phase-out, and encourage people to cut their use of such plastics.
Single use plastics include shopping bags, plastic cups, straws and packaging.
“Preliminary discussions with retailers have indicated a concern that business would be affected if they were to implement a voluntary elimination of distribution at point of sale, as customers have come to expect to be provided with plastic bags,” a council report stated.
“Council could assist retailers by providing advice to manage consumer concerns and promote their environmental leadership.”
The report referred to a 2011 waste management strategy that found residents wanted more information about how to cut waste and boost reuse and recycling opportunities. Only about three per cent of plastic bags are recycled.
