Ban all unnecessary plastic, not just polystyrene and PVC, advocates say

Monday, 9 December 2019

The Government could ban fruit stickers and polystyrene, but some say it should ban all plastic at the same time.

The Prime Minister announced on Sunday a target on 'hard to recycle' PVC plastic and polystyrene - potentially banning meat trays, cups and takeaway food containers.

The Rubbish Trip co-founder Hannah Blumhardt backed the move to target polystyrene and PVC, but she said the time-consuming process should include more plastic types.

'If we're going to do this for every single waste stream then we're going to be here until the next millenium,' she said.

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'We really need to be thinking big, we need to be thinking: How can we move up the waste hierarchy, away from disposables?'

Returnable cup scheme Again Again founder Nada Piatek said she'd like to see more plastic items gone for good.

'There's an opportunity to go further and ban not just polystyrene, but also include a ban of a wider range of items.

Fruit stickers helped customers and supermarket staff tell different produce apart, but non-compostable stickers could be banned.

'I think all plastic items which have no role in food preservation should get the cut.'

The Government plans to work towards alternatives, which can be recycled and reprocessed - but are still plastic.

'I one hundred per cent support that, but I think it's an opportunity to go further,' Piatek said.

Bayuble co-founder Sarah Wixon, who's working to make compostable fruit stickers, said all plastic should be banned where there were other viable alternatives - not just polystyrene and PVC.

Both small and large businesses needed to invest in research and development to replace their materials, she said.

Coffee cup alternative Again Again founder Nada Piatek says the Government could ban more plastic types, not just PVC and polystyrene.

'These things come at a higher price … but we shouldn't put a price on doing great things to save the earth.'

Product Stewardship Council chairman Jonathan Hannon said to replace polystyrene with another plastic wouldn't cut it.

'The priority should be reducing plastic at source.'

Hannah Blumhardt of The Rubbish Trip says the Government needs to be ''thinking big''.

The Packaging Forum, which represents the country's packaging industry, supported the Government move to target polystyrene and PVC.

Chairman Rob Langford said they backed on-pack recycling labels to show consumers how and where to recycle.

Langford said it also supported the creation of a National Plastics Action Plan, as outlined in a new report from the PM's chief science advisor.

'Industry needs to lead this as they are the experts on the vital role packaging has to play in containing and protecting food.'

A Ministry for the Environment spokesman said alongside work to phase out PVC and polystyrene packaging, the Ministry would draw up a list of other items which could also be banned.

'We don't yet have specific plans, but other countries have phased out items, and we have heard from the New Zealand public about others.'

Zero waste advocates say the government could ban all non-essential plastic.

There would be consultation in 2020 regarding which products could be eliminated, he said.

The amount of plastic on produce is the bane of the supermarket shop for many.

Alongside work to phase out PVC and polystyrene packaging, the Ministry would draw up a list of other items which could also be banned.

'At this stage we are signalling a major change, moving away from difficult to recycle and reuse plastics, rather than focussing on particular single items.'

Both Countdown and Foodstuffs supermarkets now use meat trays made from recycled PET plastic.

Countdown corporate affairs safety and sustainability general manager Kiri Hannifin said fruit stickers helped customers and supermarket staff tell different produce apart.

'We will look with interest at what decisions are made around compostable stickers, given there isn't currently a nationally available waste system for these.'

Foodstuffs NZ head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird also said stickers helped staff correctly identify produce, and they'd seek alternatives.

Foodstuffs were introducing fibre-based packaging options for produce, which were certified home compostable, Laird said.

'Our bobby bananas will soon lose their wrapping saving 19,000 tonnes of plastic going to landfill every year.'