Single-use plastic ban ‘overdue’

HOBARTIANS have been quick to welcome a council decision to ban single-use plastic food packaging from next year.

Hobart City Council on Tuesday night resolved to enact the bylaw to be enforced from 2021, after the proposal was first raised in Council in March last year.

The introduction of the bylaw is predicted to create a 600-tonne reduction in single use plastics to landfill. The ban will apply to tubs, lids, cups, cutlery, straws and sachets.

It’s understood up to 10 million pieces of single-use plastics are discarded as litter in Hobart’s CBD every year.

HCC said in a statement the bylaw would “drastically reduce” the amount of plastic ending up in waterways, public spaces and landfill.

Chicko Mackeen, owner of Liverpool St cafe Straight Up Coffee and Food, said her business had been plastic-free since it opened five years ago, and said avoiding plastic packaging was a no-brainer.

“For us, a citywide ban on single-use plastics is a non issue,” she said.

“We made a conscious decision when we opened that we didn’t want any single-use plastics in the business at all.

“It’s just part of what we do. The staff don’t question it and the customers have seemed to respond well to it.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds thanked the support of the community “who have always been so keen to see this happen”.

Hobart councillor Helen Burnet also welcomed the move.

“The community interest is massive, and I’m proud to be part of a majority decision to help reduce plastic pollution,” she said.

Hobart City Council has also resolved to lobby the State Government to consider implementing a statewide initiative to reduce single use plastics — a move Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallet said was overdue. “It is a pity the Hobart City Council didn’t take more of a leadership role alongside the State Government to see all Tasmanian council areas introduce the single-use plastic ban at the same time,” he said.