Council has avoided purchasing more than two million single-use plastic items in the past five years and a new policy is set to drive the next phase of plastic avoidance.
The ongoing phase-out plastic bags, utensils, straws and cups will now be enshrined in Council's new Single Use Plastics Management Policy.
Items, such as plastic bags, utensils and straws, have been identified as a priority and will be phased out or removed across Council operations by the end of 2021 where possible.
Council will also move to reduce other single use plastics where practicable.
The policy builds on Council's already established commitment to reducing single use plastics, which has included avoiding the purchase of about 2.1 million plastic items through reductions and switching to better alternatives.
Council has also engaged with local food and beverage businesses with support of the Plastic Free Cairns program to reduce plastic use and continues to play a role in advocacy and education for wider community change.
The policy responds to the impacts that plastic pollution poses to the general and marine environments, the waste and litter management costs borne by Council and the community, and a desire to transition towards a circular economy for plastics.
Plastic items that are frequently littered and consumed will be targeted, including bags, straws, cutlery, containers, plates, bowls, sachets (such as sauce packets), polystyrene (foam) packaging or trays, and non-compostable cups or balloons.
