The Boomerang Alliance has welcomed the appointment of Tanya Plibersek as Australia's Environment Minister, but urges quick action in implementing key recycling and plastic pollution policies.
Jeff Angel, director of the Boomerang Allliance, which is made up of 55 environment NGOs, said the alliance is looking forward to working with Minister Plibersek and other key ministers in the coming months.
"The Commonwealth had Plastic and Packaging Plans but targets are clearly going to be missed. For example, there is a goal of phasing out polystyrene packaging (by July 2022), PVC labels and non-certified compostable packaging (December 2022) – but no concrete plans are progressing. Also the 2025 National Packaging Targets are to be reviewed this year – an urgent task given they are currently on the path to failure," he said.
The Alliance confirms that it has proposed a number of other important initiatives for the circular economy including national standards for reusable, compostable and recyclable packaging to combat greenwash; mandating the packaging targets; expanding e-waste stewardship and container refund schemes, opposing waste incineration and preventing their cannabalisation of recyclable material in long term contracts.
The Boomerang Alliance was started to give local communities power and influence in their struggle to stem the massive waste of discarded resources polluting our playgrounds, parks, rivers and beaches. It is an incorporated association and registered charity, and each of its allies has the right to their own policies, and decides the level of support they give to its campaigns.
