Mornington Peninsula Shire bans single-use plastic
Another Melbourne council has agreed to ban single-use plastic after a concerted push by ecowarriors towards zero waste. The move has been labelled a “very significant step forward for the shire”.
South East
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Mornington Peninsula’s council is stepping up its war on waste by introducing a ban on single use plastics at council venues and events.
Councillors last night voted in favour of the ban, with all nine councillors present “100 per cent” behind the initiative.
The plan, put forward by councillor Bev Colomb, garnered significant community support in the lead-up to last night’s vote.
Cr Colomb, before the meeting, said she had received close to 70 emails from residents in favour of the plan.
“All of the emails were individually written, they weren’t cut and paste statements,” Cr Colomb said.
During the meeting Cr Colomb paid tribute to the region’s “many wonderful residents” and their “every day work to reduce single-use plastic”.
Councillor Hugh Fraser said the ban was a “very significant step forward for the shire”.
Councillor Antonella Celli said the council only had the power to control “its own environments” but the move set a “good example” and provided a benchmark for the wider community.
The ban follows similar moves from other councils, including Bayside and Moreland, and would form part of council policy and be included in all tenders, contracts and lease agreements.
Mornington Peninsula 2019 Citizen of the Year and Rye Seaside Scavenge organiser Josie Jones has been “quietly campaigning’’ for the ban.
“If we can demonstrate the benefits of banning single use plastic in environments the shire controls we can then move towards a ban across the whole region,” Ms Jones said.
“We need the shire to lead by example.”
Ms Jones and the Seaside Scavenge committee met with the council in May to discuss the initiative.
“We showed them what other councils were doing around Australia,” Ms Jones said.
“The shire does have the power to bring in a zero waste policy and use community advocacy to convert businesses that aren’t on board.”
Beach Patrol 3934 co-founder Amy Westnedge said the initiative was exciting and important.
“At our last beach clean we collected more than 28.7kg of rubbish, including 34 straws,” Ms Westnedge said.
Environmental group The Peninsula’s Last Straw has also backed the move and urged its social media followers to do the same.
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Ms Jones said shrinking the amount of waste collected had become even more critical in the wake of the SKM Recycling crisis.
SKM, which currently processes recyclables for Mornington Peninsula Shire, has accrued debts of $4.3 million and is expected to close its plants in South Geelong, Laverton and Coolaroo this week.