13 november 2019 - cairns regional council · 2019. 11. 8. · 270 open session agenda - ordinary...

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Open Session Agenda - Ordinary Meeting 13 November 2019 - #6165667

ORDINARY MEETING

13 NOVEMBER 2019 13

PLASTIC FREE CAIRNS M O’Loughlin | 8/24/18-01 | #6211949

RECOMMENDATION: That Council becomes a Founding Partner with the Plastic Free Places program in Cairns. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Boomerang Alliance have received funding from the Queensland Government to introduce a Plastic Free Places (PFP) program for Cairns in 2020, delivered by a Project Coordinator employed locally in Cairns. The voluntary program recruits cafes, food outlets and events, supporting their transition from single use plastic takeaway items to reusable or compostable alternatives. Council has received an invitation from Boomerang Alliance to become a Founding Partner of Plastic Free Places. There is no financial commitment to become a founding partner and previous PFP projects have demonstrated the importance of council participation in generating community interest and program credibility with local businesses. As a Founding Partner, Council would be required to: Promote the program to local businesses and the wider community Demonstrate leadership by nominating Council facilities to participate in the

program. Inform the Project Coordinator of local waste management and recycling processes

to support program content. Accepting the invitation to become a Founding Partner would support items e) and f) of the April 2018 resolution that Council: e) Officers investigate the feasibility of an initiative that supports local businesses in transitioning away from the use of all single use plastics f) Officers investigate the feasibility of a wider education campaign to reduce waste and single use plastics in the broader community It is recommended that Council accept the invitation to become a Founding Partner of the Plastic Free Places program in Cairns.

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BACKGROUND:

The Queensland Government, Department of Environment and Science has signed a contract with the Boomerang Alliance to introduce a Plastic Free Places program in both Townsville and Cairns in 2020. The program has a focus on cafes, food outlets and events to encourage a switch from target single use plastic takeaway items and replace these with reusable or 100% compostable alternatives. Boomerang Alliance’s Plastic Free Places project is a collaborative model, run in partnership with councils and local stakeholders (such as tourism and hospitality associations and local community organisations). It is a priority project for the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and is currently operating in Noosa, Byron Bay, regional Victoria, Adelaide and Perth. The first project, Plastic Free Noosa (now in its second year) has more than 200 participating business members and has removed over 3.5 million single use plastic items from use. The first year of the Plastic Free Places directly targets café and event sectors to promote and arrange the switch from identified single use plastics (coffee cups/lids, straws, cutlery, cups and containers, bags and water bottles). In following years, additional sectors can be considered for involvement in the project. Plastic Free Places is delivered by Boomerang Alliance by a South QLD-based Project Manager and will employ a local Project Coordinator. Key components of the project include: visiting participating businesses to support their transition away from target items; working directly with local suppliers to ensure businesses receive the right advice

and products; partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers; facilitating discounts and bulk purchasing agreements and; communications and marketing, including a dedicated website, social media, shop

signage and promotion of the initiative at strategic events. The Plastic Free Places model has been scoped previously in response to the 2018 Council motion that: “Officers investigate the feasibility of a wider education campaign to reduce waste and single use plastics in the broader community” Letters of support for the establishment of the program in Cairns were provided to DES in 2018 and 2019, and the funding follows Council’s motion to the Local Government Association Queensland in 2018 to: “Lobby the State Government to develop a state-wide education campaign and programs to support local communities and industry transition away from single use plastic items”. Boomerang Alliance has commenced project delivery for Cairns and Townsville and is currently developing communications materials. It is expected to formally launch in February 2020, with the first year of funding already provided by DES and a further two years anticipated.

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COMMENT:

With a considerable tourism, hospitality and events sector, the Cairns region is well placed to demonstrate best practice in single use plastics avoidance to the local and visiting community. The Plastic Free Places project responds to results from the recent Cairns Chamber of Commerce survey, showing that 73%, of the 604 businesses surveyed, were interested in transitioning away from single use plastics. Additionally, 126 Cairns businesses have already joined the Last Straw on The Great Barrier Reef, 23 are a part of the Responsible Cafes initiative and 80 are paid members of the local Committee for Waste Reduction, with additional support for the Straw No More initiative. It is anticipated that the collaborative model of Plastic Free Places may appeal to these campaign and non-profit organisations (plus the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and marine-debris clean up groups), for additional environmental and marketing outcomes. Council endorsement of Plastic Free Places would help establish credibility in the community and help create a public profile for the range of business and community plastics avoidance actions, in one coordinated ‘pride of place’ platform. As well as supporting Council in delivering “a wider education campaign to reduce…single use plastics in the broader community”, the additional benefits for Council to become a Founding Partner include:

access to robust measuring and reporting to inform education; promotion of Council’s own significant single use plastics avoidance actions under

a community banner, with alignment to participating local businesses and; an externally funded position, amplifying Council’s own investment in waste

avoidance education and reputation as a Reef Guardian council.

If endorsed, Council would be expected to:

promote and inform stakeholders about the project; facilitate the provision of collection services that support plastic free practices and

advise on organics processing; collaborate on opportunities to develop future programs and services which

enhance effectiveness of the project and; look for opportunities to review internal policy and practices that reduce Council’s

plastics footprint and demonstrate leadership by example.

This can be achieved within existing resourcing and commitments, with existing relationships with BA strengthened to ensure consistent educational messaging. It is expected that the project will formally start in Cairns in February 2020 and should Council support the recommendation below, Council could itself invite expressions of interest for Plastic Free Places in December 2019.

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OPTIONS:

That Council becomes a Founding Partner of the Plastic Free Places program in Cairns. Or That Council does not become a Founding partner of the Plastic Free Places program in Cairns. CONSIDERATIONS:

Risk Management:

As a voluntary approach to reducing single use plastics, there is the risk that some businesses may revert back to plastic items or only take limited actions. The program resources direct engagement with business in their workplaces, addressing perceived barriers, packaging misinformation and may reduce costs by facilitating bulk purchasing arrangements for alternatives. Council Finance and the Local Economy:

There are no additional budgetary considerations for the 2019/20 financial year and the project can be supported with existing, in-kind staff resourcing. Council may consider financial support in further budget cycles. The promotion of single use plastic free tourism experiences and hospitality aligns with marketing of the region as an environmentally responsible, nature-based destination. Community and Cultural Heritage:

Significant community-led personal actions, education and campaigning has occurred for single use plastics reduction in the region. There has also been 234 registered local community-led clean ups between 2015-2018 tackling plastics pollution. Partnering with the Plastic Free Places program supports this environmental stewardship and contributes to a proud sense of place with strengthened, coordinated marketing of positive actions, supporting a local culture of waste avoidance. Natural Environment:

Single use plastics are the most common type of litter found in Cairns waterways. Often used for minutes, they do not break down but rather break up into thousands of pieces that can remain in the environment for hundreds of years, significantly impacting life in terrestrial and marine environments – including corals and even plankton. Locally, even after all waste recovery processes it is estimated that 40% of Cairns’ remnant waste in landfill is plastics.

Waste avoidance, reuse and a transition to compostable alternatives reduces landfill, supports organic waste processing and minimises littered impacts.

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Corporate and Operational Plans:

Advances Council’s strategic goal for Natural Assets with objectives to: Value and protect Cairns pristine natural environment and Make better use of our natural resources. Statutory:

There are no statutory considerations for this report. Policy:

Alignment with the Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy, Procurement Policy and Corporate Sustainability Policy. CONSULTATION:

Should Council endorse its role as a Founding Partner, further consultation will occur between Boomerang Alliance and packaging suppliers, campaigners, non-profits, business chambers and trade associations. ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1: Plastic Free Places – Council Brief

Michelle O’Loughlin Sustainability Officer

Peter Boyd Manager Strategic Planning & Approvals

Kelly Reaston General Manager Planning & Environment

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Attachment 1: Plastic Free Places – Council Brief

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13 november 2019 - cairns regional council · 2019. 11. 8. · 270 open session agenda - ordinary...

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