We are in a plastics crisis. Over one million tonnes of plastic is consumed in New South Wales each year of which only about 10 percent is recycled. Plastic contaminates soil, water and the food chain and kills wildlife. Globally nearly one garbage truck of plastic enters the ocean every minute and it is estimated there are 51 trillion microplastic particles in the oceans. The pandemic has generated a surge in single-use plastic containers, coffee cups, carry bags and face masks.

In Parliament I called on the government to introduce legislated requirements to meet its 20 Year Waste Strategy targets including mandatory producer responsibility and use of recycled materials in products as well as bans on some single use plastics like straws, cutlery and polystyrene cups. Past reliance on voluntary measures, grants and education has seen not only failure to meet previous reduction targets but increased plastic generation and waste.

My speech in Parliament: > HERE.

Support the Boomerang Alliance campaign for the minister to act on plastic pollution and recycling, with a clear 11 point plan: > HERE.