Ordinary Meeting of Council 30 November 2016

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4.4 PLASTIC BAG BAN

Ward: (All Wards) (Fleet & Waste)

Disclosure of Interest: Nil

Authorised Officer: (Executive Manager Operations)

KEY ISSUES

• The City recently received the attached letter from the West Australian Local Government Association's (WALGA) Municipal Waste Advisory Council (MWAC) requesting feedback on whether the City is interested in a plastic bag ban (local or state wide) and the extent to which plastic pollution is considered a problem.

• WALGA have prepared a discussion paper on this matter following enquiries from several local governments on instigating local Laws to ban plastic bags.

• Plastic pollution is an issue within the City of Swan. Plastic bags do contribute to the litter collected from verges and to the material sent to landfill. The presence of plastic bags in recycling streams leads to increased processing costs as bag splitting and additional sorting is required.

• City staff believe there are merits to a ban on plastic bags; however a ban should be implemented at a state level to ensure a uniform approach is undertaken across Western Australia.

It is recommended that the Council support in principle a state initiative to ban the use of plastic bags in Western Australia and provide advice to WALGA.

BACKGROUND

The City recently received the attached letter from the West Australian Local Government Association's (WALGA) Municipal Waste Advisory Council (MWAC) requesting feedback on whether the City is interested in a plastic bag ban (local or state wide) and the extent to which plastic pollution is considered a problem.

WALGA through MWAC are undertaking research on potential options to ban plastic bags and have prepared the attached background paper following enquiries from several local governments on instating such local laws.

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WALGA is requesting feedback in relation to the following four questions:

1. Is plastic pollution and litter an issue for your Local Government? Why/why not?

2. What actions is your Local Government taking to address littering and prevent plastic entering the environment?

3. Does your Council support a state-wide plastic bag ban?

4. Would your Council like to introduce a Local Law to ban plastic bags?

The purpose of this report is to establish the City's position on questions 3 & 4 and provide advice to WALGA.

DETAILS

Plastic pollution is an issue within the City of Swan. Plastic bags do contribute to the litter collected from verges and to the material sent to landfill. The presence of plastic bags in recycling streams leads to increased processing costs as bag splitting and additional sorting is required. WALGA's research paper notes that approximately three quarters of the rubbish along the Australian coastline is plastic, and that WA was found to have one of the highest levels of plastic pollution in the country.

City staff believe there are merits to a ban on plastic bags; however a ban should be implemented at a state level to ensure a uniform approach is undertaken across Western Australia. South Australia implemented a state wide ban in 2009 and plastic bag litter had halved within 3 years. ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have also implemented state wide bans, and Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales are working on a joint approach to bagless shopping. It is recommended that the City respond to WALGA advising that the City would support the implementation of a state initiative.

Should Council wish to pursue a ban of plastic bags at a local level, it is possible to investigate the implementation of a local law during the review of the City's local laws in 2017. There are no Local Governments in Western Australia who have instated local laws to ban plastic bags. The City of Fremantle has attempted to implement such Local laws in 2013 and 2015 and have been unsuccessful as detailed on page 13 of the attached Discussion Paper. It is not recommended to pursue the implementation of local laws without the guidance of a state initiative.

The City of Cockburn Council recently resolved to support the banning of all non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags in its municipal area. The City of Bayswater Council also considered the matter recently and resolved to support the initiative on a state level, however does not support the introduction of local laws. Bassendean and East Fremantle have previously voted to support a ban.

CONSULTATION

The discussion paper was made available to local government on 11 November.

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ATTACHMENTS

WALGA Municipal Waste Advisory Council Plastic Bag Discussion Paper

STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS

Reducing waste through reduction, re-use and recycling is an objective of the City's Strategic Community Plan.

STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS

Nil

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Nil

VOTING REQUIREMENTS

Simple majority

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council resolve to:

1) Support in principle a state initiative to ban the use of plastic bags in Western Australia.

2) Advise the West Australian Local Government Association's Municipal Waste Advisory Council accordingly.

MOTION that the Council resolve to:

1) Not support a state initiative to ban the use of plastic bags in Western Australia.

2) Advise the West Australian Local Government Association's Municipal Waste Advisory Council accordingly.

3) Record the reason for changing the staff recommendation is that shoppers are offered alternatives to plastic bags and make their own choice as to the bag they wish to use.

(Cr Henderson -)

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MOTION LAPSED due to the lack of a seconder.

MOTION that the Council resolve to adopt the staff recommendation.

(Cr Lucas - Cr Kovalevs)

MOTION that the motion be now put.

(Cr Lucas – Cr Bailey)

MOTION WAS PUT TO THE VOTE AND LOST (7/5)

(75% majority of members present required)

For: Crs Bailey, Haynes, Kovalevs, Lucas, McDonnell, McNamara and Wainwright

Against: Crs Henderson, Johnson, McCullough, Trease and Williams

Cr Johnson and Cr Haynes left the Chamber at 8.36pm.

Cr Johnson entered the Chamber at 8.37pm.

Cr Haynes entered the Chamber at 8.38pm.

THE MOTION WAS PUT TO THE VOTE WHICH RESULTED IN AN EQUALITY OF VOTES (6/6)

For: Crs Bailey, Haynes, Kovalevs, Lucas, McDonnell and Wainwright

Against: Crs Henderson, Johnson, McCullough, McNamara, Trease and Williams

THE PRESIDING MEMBER EXERCISED HIS CASTING VOTE AND VOTED FOR THE MOTION

RESOLVED (7/6) TO:

1) Support in principle a state initiative to ban the use of plastic bags in Western Australia.

2) Advise the West Australian Local Government Association's Municipal Waste Advisory Council accordingly.

4.4 Plastic Bag Ban