Council has adopted a new policy seeking to further reduce single-use items and packaging in the Surf Coast Shire.
The Single-Use Items and Packaging Policy(PDF, 398KB) aims to help protect the natural environment and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.
It replaces our previous 2021 Plastic Wise Policy.
The new policy has been broadened and will see the phasing out of many single-use items across all Council facilities, Council events, and events on Council land, over the next three years.
It also aligns with current state government single-use plastics bans.
The policy will apply to all formal use of Council facilities, such as:
- User groups, including sports clubs, who are tenants of Council facilities;
- Community members or businesses hiring Council facilities for parties, events, conferences or workshops;
- Facilities directly managed by Council; and
- Organisers hosting events and markets on Council land.
It does not apply to informal use of Council facilities such as visiting a library or local park.
The policy outlines three categories of items to be phased out:
- Category one – State bans: items already banned by the Victorian Government and EPA such as lightweight plastic bags;
- Category two – Local bans: single-use items (including single-use compostable items) to be phased out, including all plastic bags and takeaway coffee cups and lids; and
- Category three – Reduce your use: items that are harder to avoid but still important to try and reduce such as soft plastic packaging.
Exemptions are available in certain circumstances, including health and safety, existing commercial agreements, and lack of suitable alternatives.
A key change from the 2021 policy is that the new policy discourages all single-use items – including compostable items – where previously these were seen as a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic.
Compostable packaging cannot be accepted by Council's FOGO processor due to the presence of PFAS (synthetic chemicals that contaminate compost) and the lack of regulation of 'compostable' labelling.
A draft of the new policy was open for community feedback between 29 May and 4 July this year and promoted to tenants and users of Council facilities.
Of 86 survey respondents, 93 per cent expressed support for the policy (72 per cent were 'very supportive' and 21 per cent 'somewhat supportive'.)
Council officers also hosted online information sessions and had in-person discussions with users of Council facilities such as market vendors and sporting clubs, to gather further feedback.
Changes made as a result of community feedback include:
- Implementation period shortened from five years to two years for general facility users, and three years for markets and tenants with takeaway food service (such as sporting club canteens).
- Additional support for markets and sporting clubs, with a two-year testing and co-design phase followed by a one-year implementation period.
- Commitment to share supplier names to help users identify available alternative products.
We will work closely with our facility tenants and offer a range of support to help the transition away from single-use items.
The policy is an important action in our efforts to achieve the aims set out in our Circular Economy Action Plan 2024-2027.
A recent report on progress in year one of the strategy detailed key achievements, including:
- Diversion of 70 per cent of household waste from landfill.
- A successful 2024 soft plastics recycling trial, leading to introduction of a permanent service this year.
- Educational efforts to reduce bin contamination, including a series of award winning videos detailing the journey of materials placed in green, yellow, purple and red kerbside bins.
This work aligns with the Council Plan 2025-29 strategic direction of Climate and Environmental Leadership.
