City Moves to Turn the Tide on Plastic

The endorsement of the draft policy, along with the supporting "Turn the Tide on Plastic" Guideline, comes after a unanimous decision by Council in August 2018 to address the matter of single use plastics. 

The policy proposes controls to minimise the use of disposable plastics by requiring the use of compostable or reusable alternatives. It will apply to all City operations, all traders operating with a permit issued by the City, and any events held in public places or on City-controlled land.

The supporting "Turn the Tide on Plastic" Guideline provides detailed information to assist in making the switch away from single use plastics, while also educating businesses and individuals wishing to reduce their use of plastic. The guideline is the first of its kind in Western Australia. 

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said while similar policies had been introduced in other states, this would be the most extensive policy on plastic for a local government in Western Australia. 

"The policy acknowledges the adverse effects of single use plastics on the environment and the need for us to take action in this space," Mayor Sammels said. 

"Rockingham’s unique coastline is very important to our community and way of life. Given the impact that single use plastics have on marine wildlife, this policy is an important step in the right direction for the City."

The policy is available for public comment on Wednesday 10 April 2019.

View the policy and guideline, and share your thoughts.