The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water has concluded its inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 28 May 2024

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water has concluded its inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways. The Committee’s final report, tabled today in Parliament, makes 22 recommendations aimed at strengthening Australia’s plastics management framework to minimise plastic waste to landfill, incentivise the use of recycled materials in the production of new plastics and strengthen management of the plastics that are already in the environment. Chair of the Committee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said ‘Without urgent action, plastic waste will increase and continue to negatively impact our oceans and waterways. Australia needs to act now to protect its natural environment for future generations.’ A key recommendation is the development of an updated National Plastics Plan in consultation with state and territory governments, industry, and the community. Mr Zappia said ‘the Plan should be nationally coordinated and increase industry accountability to reduce the amount of plastics ending up in landfill.’ Mr Zappia added that ‘many Australians want to recycle correctly but inconsistencies among states and territories have led consumers to believe that certain items are recyclable or compostable when they are not. The Committee recommends nationally harmonising the single-use plastic bans, waste collection standards and the Container Deposit Scheme.’ ‘Packaging and recycling labelling need to be standardised and simplified to reduce confusion and help consumers recycle the right containers,’ Mr Zappia said. ‘We also need to better understand the potential risks and effects of microplastic pollution on human health. The Committee has recommended investment in research and the development of a microplastic reduction strategy to limit microplastic pollution in our marine environments.’ The full report, including the Committee’s complete list of recommendations can be found on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Mr Tony Zappia MP, Chair (08) 8265 3100 For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4580 cceew@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will hold a public hearing for its inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways in Canberra on Friday 11 August 2023.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 10 August 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will hold a public hearing for its inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways in Canberra on Friday 11 August 2023. The hearing on Friday’s will hear from representatives from the retail and manufacturing sectors, not-for-profit sectors and the government. The evidence will build on evidence previously heard by the Committee when it held hearings and inspected a range of sites around Australia in late June. Chair of the Committee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said that “the Committee looks forward to hearing from groups such as the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Australian Retailers Association and the Australian Beverage Council, who will be able to provide a design and manufacturing perspective on plastic pollution.” “The Committee is concerned to hear that Australia is expected to increase its level of plastic consumption, and groups such as WWF Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society have provided a range of recommendations which the Committee will explore in more detail at the hearing.” Mr Zappia continued.  The program for Friday’s hearing is as follows: Time Witness 9.00am Australian Food and Grocery Council, National Retail Association and Australian Council of Recycling (Submission 62) 9.30am Australian Beverages Council (Submission 40) 10.00am Australian Retailers Association (Submission 39) 10.30am WWF-Australia (Submission 15) Australian Marine Conservation Society (Submission 45) 11.30am Break 11.45am Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Submission 59) 12.30pm Close Interested parties can view or listen to the proceedings on the Parliament of Australia website. Further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including terms of reference and submissions received is available on its website. Media inquiries Mr Tony Zappa MP, Chair (08) 8265 3100 For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4580 cceew@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will, on Friday 31 March 2023, hold the first public hearing for its inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways in Canberra.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 30 March 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water will, on Friday 31 March 2023, hold the first public hearing for its inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways in Canberra. Friday’s hearing will bring together a range of stakeholders to present their views to the Committee. Witnesses come from government, not-for-profit and private sectors that work on solutions to reduce the impact of plastic pollution such as through research, monitoring and product engineering as well as end-user solutions in agriculture. Chair of the Committee, Mr Tony Zappia MP, said that “plastic pollution is a growing concern, particularly in marine environments where plastic is responsible for much of the waste collected on beaches, and for the deaths of marine life through entanglement and ingestion of micro plastics. The Committee looks forward to learning about the existing and emerging solutions available to reduce the amount of plastic being discharged into our oceans and waterways.” The program for Friday’s hearing is as follows: Time Witness 09.00 am Australian Academy of Science (Submission 61) 09.40 am CSIRO (Submission 8) 10.30 am CropLife Australia (Submission 35) 11.10 am Break 11.20 am Engineers Australia (Submission 11) 12.00 pm Tangaroa Blue Foundation (Submission 26) 12.40 pm Break 1.30 pm Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (Submission 43) 2.10 pm Close Interested parties can view or listen to the proceedings on the Parliament of Australia website. Further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including terms of reference and submissions received is available on its website. Media inquiries Mr Tony Zappa MP, Chair (08) 8265 3100 For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4580 cceew@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water has today commenced a new inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 10 November 2022

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water has today commenced a new inquiry into plastic pollution in Australia’s oceans and waterways. In launching the inquiry, Committee Chair, Mr Tony Zappia MP said ‘Australia produces some 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and of this, around 130,000 tonnes leaks into the environment, including our oceans and waterways.’   ‘The impact of plastic pollution on marine environments is significant, particularly as larger plastic items break down and leave microplastic remnants that are absorbed by plants, wildlife, and humans’, said Mr Zappia. ‘The inquiry will consider the effectiveness of existing frameworks and engagement initiatives aimed at reducing plastic pollution while also examining impactful approaches across the world.’     The Committee’s inquiry will examine the impact of plastic pollution, including microplastics, having regard to: the environmental impacts of plastic pollution particularly in oceans and waterways the effectiveness of Australia’s plastics management framework under the National Plastics Plan and related policies to reduce plastic pollution particularly in oceans and waterways the effectiveness of the Australian Government’s engagement with states, territories, industry and non-government organisations to reduce plastic pollution particularly in oceans and waterways the effectiveness of community campaigns to reduce plastic pollution particularly in oceans and waterways and encourage the use of alternative materials global initiatives underway to reduce plastic pollution particularly in oceans and waterways any other relevant matter. The Committee is inviting submissions to the inquiry addressing any or all of the above terms of reference by 22 December 2022. Further information about the Committee’s inquiry is available on its website. Media inquiries Mr Tony Zappa MP, Chair (08) 8265 3100 For background information Committee Secretariat (02) 6277 4580 cceew@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.