Shire’s plastic policy makes finals of local government awards

THE Surf Coast Shire has been named a finalist in a prestigious local government award for its efforts to cut down on plastic.

Earlier this month, the shire’s Plastic Wise Policy for Events and Markets was listed among the four finalists in the “Sustainability Initiative” category in the 2019 LGPro Awards for Excellence.

The award is for excellence in the delivery of environmentally sustainable processes or projects that provide programs and developments that meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations.

The shire’s Plastic Wise Policy was implemented to demonstrate leadership and commit the council to reducing or eliminating single-use plastic at events and markets at sites owned and managed by the council across the municipality.

The policy, believed to be the first of its kind in Australia, has driven significant behaviour change since its adoption in 2016, with many local market and event organisers demonstrating their commitment to reducing the environmental impact of their events.

It has seen an increase in the use of “bring your own” and reusable options – such as bags, water bottles, containers and coffee cups – increased recovery of compostable food and packaging, reduced litter in the environment, and reduced waste being sent to landfill.

As a result, the Surf Coast Shire is building a reputation for hosting a diverse range of sustainable events.

The policy saw the 2018 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach achieve a record 65 per cent of waste diverted from landfill, and Torquay’s Nightjar Festival turn 65 to 70 per cent of its waste into compost.

The LGPro 2019 Awards for Excellence are held annually as part of the LGPro Annual Conference and encourage and reward professional excellence across all areas of Local Government.