Is a beloved item disappearing from Australian shelves? Find out now!
When we were kids, we couldn't have imagined that balloons—those colourful, magical spheres that brought so much joy during childhood parties—could one day be considered 'high-risk' and potentially banished from the supermarkets. But times have changed, and their plastic counterparts are proving to be hazardous to not only the environment but to us as well.
WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature, has compiled a list of 'high-risk' and 'unnecessary' plastic items that may eventually be removed or restricted from Australian sales. This list isn't limited to just balloons either; it also includes disposable vacuum filters, single-use vapes, and plastic Q-tips, all of which may be stripped from supermarket shelves by 2035 to help stop the world from doubling its plastic use by 2040.
Kate Noble, a plastics expert with WWF in Australia, emphasises that many of us might not even be aware that everyday products like cigarette filters, disposable coffee cups, and some tea bags contain plastic. She cites wet wipes as another classic example, pointing to the growing awareness of their environmental impact in countries like the UK due to the massive 'fatbergs' clogging their sewerage systems.
The prospect of banning these everyday items might seem alarming, but without taking drastic action, our beaches and streets could be overrun with plastic within our lifetime. Just earlier this year, Yahoo employed AI technology to demonstrate how Sydney and Melbourne could look by 2050 if plastic use continues to soar, painting a grim picture of the future for both cities.
One of the key concerns is that Australians are, rather embarrassingly, unable to recycle their soft plastics efficiently, leaving the country one of the largest per-capita users of single-use plastics while recycling only 14% of them. WWF is calling for bans on items like microplastic particles found in products such as cosmetics and toothpaste. It also advocates for an immediate end to plastic cutlery as viable alternatives currently exist in the market.
While it's easy to understand why balloons would be a prime candidate for regulation, Ms Noble reminds us that there are simple alternatives like bubbles, which hold a similar allure for children without carrying the same environmental risks. She explains, 'Science tells us balloons are one of the deadliest soft plastics when they get into the environment because they're frequently mistaken by wildlife for food.'
The vast majority of recycling systems around the world use a combination of public and private enterprise initiatives to divert and process waste. In Australia, the public sector plays a greater role in the day-to-day operation of managing waste, ranging from the operation of public transfer stations to the overall enforcement of laws and regulations concerning waste management. Local government and non-profit organisations also play a key role in developing initiatives to help drive public awareness and engagement in recycling systems. By improving recycling systems globally, governments and corporations can reduce our dependence on single-use plastics and reduce the impact of plastic waste on our environment.
How can we, as members of the Seniors Discount Club, play a part in safeguarding our planet and its wildlife? Share your ideas on adopting eco-friendly alternatives like bubbles instead of balloons and making sustainable choices for a greener future. Let's discuss how we can leave a positive environmental legacy for generations to come!
WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature, has compiled a list of 'high-risk' and 'unnecessary' plastic items that may eventually be removed or restricted from Australian sales. This list isn't limited to just balloons either; it also includes disposable vacuum filters, single-use vapes, and plastic Q-tips, all of which may be stripped from supermarket shelves by 2035 to help stop the world from doubling its plastic use by 2040.
Kate Noble, a plastics expert with WWF in Australia, emphasises that many of us might not even be aware that everyday products like cigarette filters, disposable coffee cups, and some tea bags contain plastic. She cites wet wipes as another classic example, pointing to the growing awareness of their environmental impact in countries like the UK due to the massive 'fatbergs' clogging their sewerage systems.
The prospect of banning these everyday items might seem alarming, but without taking drastic action, our beaches and streets could be overrun with plastic within our lifetime. Just earlier this year, Yahoo employed AI technology to demonstrate how Sydney and Melbourne could look by 2050 if plastic use continues to soar, painting a grim picture of the future for both cities.
One of the key concerns is that Australians are, rather embarrassingly, unable to recycle their soft plastics efficiently, leaving the country one of the largest per-capita users of single-use plastics while recycling only 14% of them. WWF is calling for bans on items like microplastic particles found in products such as cosmetics and toothpaste. It also advocates for an immediate end to plastic cutlery as viable alternatives currently exist in the market.
While it's easy to understand why balloons would be a prime candidate for regulation, Ms Noble reminds us that there are simple alternatives like bubbles, which hold a similar allure for children without carrying the same environmental risks. She explains, 'Science tells us balloons are one of the deadliest soft plastics when they get into the environment because they're frequently mistaken by wildlife for food.'
Recycling Systems In Australia And Globally
With the world producing more plastic in just 17 years than it did throughout the entire 20th century, it is more important than ever to develop effective strategies to recycle the huge amounts of plastic that exist in our environment. The amount of plastic that is recycled in Australia varies from state to state, with only around 13 per cent of plastic produced in Australia actually being recycled. Unfortunately, Australia is lagging behind countries like Norway and Singapore and doesn't have the facilities set up to recycle soft plastics.The vast majority of recycling systems around the world use a combination of public and private enterprise initiatives to divert and process waste. In Australia, the public sector plays a greater role in the day-to-day operation of managing waste, ranging from the operation of public transfer stations to the overall enforcement of laws and regulations concerning waste management. Local government and non-profit organisations also play a key role in developing initiatives to help drive public awareness and engagement in recycling systems. By improving recycling systems globally, governments and corporations can reduce our dependence on single-use plastics and reduce the impact of plastic waste on our environment.
Key Takeaways
- Everyday products like balloons, disposable vacuum filters, single-use vapes, and plastic Q-tips could be banned as they're added to a list of 'high-risk' and 'unnecessary' plastic items by the WWF.
- WWF is advocating for these bans ahead of the United Nations plastic pollution treaty talks in Paris, aiming to create a binding agreement by 2024.
- In 2019, the world produced around 353 million tonnes of plastic, with less than 10% recycled, leading to environmental and health impacts.
- WWF wants these items phased out by at least 2035 or reduced to a minimum, encouraging industry innovation for reusable and recyclable alternatives.