Freo welcomes fast-tracked plastics plan

The City of Fremantle has welcomed the state government’s plan to fast-track the phasing out of single-use plastics.

Under the new timeframe announced on the weekend plastic plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, stirrers, straws and thick plastic bags will be phased out by the end of this year.

Polystyrene food containers will also be banned by the end of the year, as will the release of helium balloons.

Plastic barrier/produce bags, cotton buds with plastic shafts, polystyrene packaging, microbeads and oxo-degradable plastics are set to be phased out by the end of 2022, along with takeaway coffee cups and lids with single-use plastic materials.

Deputy Mayor Andrew Sullivan said the measures mirror steps already taken by the City of Fremantle to eliminate single-use plastics.

“The City of Fremantle is very proud of its record in leading the push towards making WA plastic-free,” Cr Sullivan said.

“This includes our efforts to ban the use of lightweight single-use plastic bags, which became state government policy in 2018, and our local law to prohibit the release of gas-filled balloons from local government property which came into effect in 2019.

“We also have our Sustainable Events Policy – adopted in 2018 – which excludes the provision, use, distribution or sale of single-use plastics including straws, cutlery, bottles, cups, plates, containers, bags and cling-wrap at all City-run events.

“What’s been really great is that a lot of commercial events in Fremantle have also embraced the Sustainable Events Policy, even though there are elements they are encouraged – but not required – to implement.

“This will clearly be a massive change for our food and hospitality sectors but I’m confident that, as a result of our policy, event organisers in Fremantle will be well placed when the state government’s plastics ban comes into effect at the end of the year.”

The City of Fremantle’s Sustainable Events Policy is currently under review following its initial two-year trial period.

Fremantle Council’s Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation Committee last week voted to retain the policy without any modifications. The full council will consider the policy when it meets next week.