Western Australia's laws might be leading the way on banning single-use plastics, but for many businesses, they just cement what businesses have been practising already.
But for Angie Kosse, who owns two cafes in Perth's south, the rules reflect what she has been doing for years.
"When we started changing about three, four years ago, it was more about reducing waste, reducing plastics, reducing everything," she said.
Plastic straws were the first item to go, followed by cheaper plastic containers in the kitchen.
It was all part of an effort to reduce rubbish across her cafes, including the amount of food sent to landfill.
"I'm from Europe, we have been doing this for a very long time," she said.
"I remember growing up for us, recycling was a day-to-day thing because we had to do it.
"Coming to Australia, it was new to me that actually, people do not recycle here."
Now, she has switched to sustainable alternatives for everything she can.
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Plastic ban follows changing attitudes
Under the current stage of the plan, the following single-use plastic or disposable items are banned:
- cutlery
- stirrers
- straws
- plates
- bowls
- cups
- thick plastic bags
- helium balloon releases.
Polystyrene takeaway containers of a certain density have also been banned, although trays used for meat and seafood packaging are exempt.
The restrictions are already in effect, but the government said they won't be enforced until later this year, so businesses can use up current stock.
From 1 January 2023, the following further single-use plastic or disposable items will also be banned:
- barrier/produce bags
- microbeads
- polystyrene packaging
- polystyrene cups
- coffee cups and lids
- cotton buds with plastic shafts
- lids for cups and bowls.
The second stage will also ban oxo-degradable plastics, which are designed to more rapidly break up into fragments under certain conditions.
Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the government recognised many were already reducing their reliance on plastic.
"The time has come for us to back that sentiment up with action."
The next challenge: coffee cups and lids
Ms Kosse said while adjusting to the first stage of the ban had been relatively easy, finding suitable coffee cups and lids would take a bit longer.
"Because it's a hot beverage most of the time, so we have to make sure that it's safe and that it's closed," she said.
Her cafes currently use a sustainable alternative, but she was not sure if that would be allowed under the new rules.
Ms Kosse also encouraged people not to use takeaway cups and containers if they were dining in.
"We've got all the equipment here to make sure everything is sanitised and clean," she said.
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resoure: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-04/wa-plastics-ban-leads-nation/100736204?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
