VIDEO ABOVE: The Frant - Australia, we have a plastic problem
The WWF has just released , revealing how much progress Australian states and territories have made in tackling our country's single-use plastics problem. If you're hoping for a plastic-free future sometime soon, the results are not particularly encouraging.
The WWF scorecard ranks Australian states on whether they've taken action to ban some of the most environmentally harmful single-use plastics.
It's an increasingly urgent mission, given that . Last year China announced that it would no longer be processing 99 per cent of the recycling Australia has been exporting, and since then several other Asian countries have stopped importing our recyclable waste. Until an alternative is found, that means , regardless of its capacity to be recycled.
'The State of Plastics in Australia' Scorecard Source: WWF
So, which states are leading the way in cutting off single-use plastics before we use them?
South Australia has currently done the most to combat these plastics, moving to ban plastic bags back in 2009, and announcing plans to ban single-use plastic cutlery and straws earlier this year. According to the WWF, South Australia has also taken some action towards addressing the problem of plastic coffee cups, plates and containers.
Bringing up the rear are NSW and Victoria, both of which have taken no action to combat most of the 11 problem plastics the WWF identified. NSW is the only state which has yet to ban single-use plastic shopping bags. Victoria, meanwhile, is the only Australian state without a plan for a container deposit scheme (a financial incentive to recycle bottles and cans).
"This is the first-ever plastics scorecard, so we're really hoping that this starts a discussion on single-use plastics in Australia," Katinka Day, WWF Australia's No Plastic In Nature policy lead told The Feed.
"South Australia's certainly leading the way -- they're one of the few states that is finally starting to move on many harmful single-use plastics, and one of the only states seriously considering acting on other plastics like styrofoam."
"There's definitely room for them to move, though. They still allow the release of balloons, which we believe is low-hanging fruit. Most states and territories ban littering, so if you chuck it at the side of the road it's not okay, but if you release it into the air it's fine."
While South Australia is currently leading the way on the plastics front, it's not the only state pulling its weight environmentally.
Tasmania is currently in the lead for renewable power generation, coming from renewables as of 2019 (the extra 4.8 per cent represents excess hydro and wind power Tasmania exports). It's followed by South Australia, where 53 per cent of power is produced by renewables, Victoria (20.9 per cent) and NSW (14.4 per cent).
Victoria, NSW and the ACT are also responsible for the lion's share of large-scale renewable energy projects currently under construction -- combined, these three states contain 6,830 of the 9,726 megawatts of .
On the plastics front, too, it's not quite as simple as celebrating the states that have banned the most products. In fact, some states are currently grappling with the unintended repercussions of banning specific products. South Australia's decision to ban plastic straws was , who often rely on plastic straws to eat, drink or take medication. Common plastic straw alternatives like metal, glass, bamboo, silicone or paper straws can be unsuitable replacements because they are costly, pose an injury risk, or are not positionable.
Day acknowledged that the WWF is aware of the needs of people with disabilities, and hopes to take these needs into account when advocating for a ban on single-use plastics.
"I think any policy on plastics needs to be sensible," she said. "While straws are largely unnecessary single-use plastics, we do acknowledge that they can be vital for people with disabilities."
I think what's important for us when looking at these single use plastics is considering what's most harmful, and what's most unnecessary.
The WWF plans to update the plastics scorecard in six months time and is hoping that doing so will help hold states to account.
"That's what the scorecard highlights - that there are states and territories that need to do more," Day said.
"We really hope that this starts a conversation, and we're looking forward to re-releasing this in six months' time. It's certainly an area that we're looking forward to welcoming action on."
