Single-use plastics ban looming A
BY ABBY WALTER
single-use plastic ban will be implemented across Victoria on February 1.
Single-use plastic drinking straws and stirrers, cutlery, plates, cotton buds and food service items, along with drink containers made from expanded polystyrene, will be banned. Horsham Sports and Community Club manager Glenn Carroll said the business had not used plastic straws for about five years. “We also transitioned away from plastic cutlery and used bamboo cutlery for takeaway during COVID-19,” he said. “We’ve tried to be ahead in terms of doing the right thing. “The change came out of strategic planning to reduce our plastic. It’s the best thing to do for the planet. “There’s too much plastic around. We are here to look after the community and that includes the environment. This is a way we can contribute.”
Horsham RSL manager Tim Nurse said it was good for the environment for the business to reduce plastic use. “We haven’t ordered plastic straws in more than a year and use as many biodegradable products as we can,” he said. “I think most businesses have been moving in this direction already.” National Retail Association policy manager Ebony Johnson said Victorian businesses had responded positively during their engagement program, which included visiting more than 3000 stores across the state. “We’ve engaged over 15,000 retailers, suppliers, peak bodies and other stakeholders in the past few months, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” she said. For businesses still transitioning, Ms Johnson encouraged them to act now and access the free support services available. “Firstly, I recommend businesses visit the Victorian government web-
site to download free resources and information to ensure they understand what’s included in the ban, as plastic regulations vary across states and territories,” she said. “Businesses can also ask questions at the free online information sessions we host at 11am every Friday, or call our toll-free hotline for advice.”
Change behaviour
Ms Johnson said the ban was a good opportunity to change business and customer behaviours. “The best alternative is to avoid using or supplying that item by asking if it is something you need – if you’re grabbing takeaway food to eat at home, you probably don’t need disposable cutlery,” she said. “Another alternative is to use reusable alternatives. If most of your customers dine in-store, then reusable cutlery and plates are a great option to reduce waste. “Finally, if choosing disposables look for the most sustainable option.
“Alternatives made from compostable or ‘plant-based’ plastics are included in the ban, as they are no better for the environment than plastic when littered. “We encourage businesses to ask their supplier a few simple questions to ensure alternatives are compliant.” Ms Johnson said coffee cups and takeaway containers were not included in the ban unless made from expanded polystyrene. “We believe it’s a well-reasoned ban with alternative options widely available, and while it’s great if businesses take proactive steps on other items, the regulations are designed to be manageable and practical for all organisations to implement now,” she said. Ms Johnson said the ban applied to all businesses and community groups, but it was important to note that plastic straws would still be available and legal to supply to members of the community who need them.
She said from February 1, businesses cannot sell or supply the banned products no matter when they were purchased. “Victorian consumers expressed high support for a ban on these items and even if there are a few inconveniences during the transition we tend to find that eases within a matter of weeks as everyone adjusts to the changes,” she said. Ms Johnson encouraged businesses to communicate with customers, display the posters available on the government website and access free advice if needed, with support services continuing before and after the ban. She said more information was available online at www.vic.gov.au/ plastics She said the free hotline number was 1800 844 946 and to register for an information session, people could visit www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vicplastics-ban-business-info-sessionstickets-433412176487
New partnership targets engineers A new recruitment and settlement services partnership in the Wimmera aiming to boost retention of engineers in the region has already sprouted shoots. Wimmera Development Association has launched a new affiliation with social-enterprise initiative Work Stay, an organisation that recruits and settles people into new jobs across regional Australia. The partnership has already borne connections with municipal councils and shires across the region to increase the retention rate of new engineers, in part, because of a comparative disadvantage regional councils face compared with metropolitan employers in a competitive employment sphere. Work Stay executive director Kate Sowden said the key was to build a candidate pool with prospective employees who valued specific employment with regional councils. “It is important to be recruiting people, new migrants or otherwise, who specifically want to work with council,” she said. “Even if people see work-
ing for a regional council as a two to five-year period to gain experience, if their desire is to work in council, there remains a smaller risk of them jumping out into other infrastructure projects. “Many regional towns are impacted in recruiting by state infrastructure projects, large private sector contracts, or by the lure of mining towns, and this can be a huge resource drain on regional areas.” Horsham Rural City Council infrastructure director John Martin said often prospective employees for regional council engineering roles could be siphoned away by a lure of higher paying, prestigious infrastructure builds in metropolitan areas. Horsham Rural City Council recently worked with Work Stay to employ a civil engineer from Pakistan with Masters qualifications and nearly a decade of working experience. Mr Martin said he admired the enterprise’s model of recruitment, which he said focused on the intricacies of regional-council recruitment in Australia’s competitive engineering sector.
FIRST STEPS: Wimmera council representatives gathered with social-enterprise recruitment agency Work Stay and Wimmera Development Association to discuss obstacles and solutions to skilled recruitment in the region. From left, WDA Wimmera Settlement Services manager Sara Barron, WDA executive director Chris Sounness, Work Stay executive director Kate Sowden, Hindmarsh Shire representative Jessie Holmes and Horsham Rural City Council infrastructure director John Martin. Picture: MICHAEL SCALZO “The key is finding people who have an understanding of us. Often, meeting the needs of the potential employee’s partner is just as important as the needs of the employee,” he said. “As a social enterprise, I think Work Stay are on the right track. Their commission is invested back into their recruitment work.” WDA executive director Chris Sounness said Work Stay would complement the work of the association’s set-
tlement services programs that often contributed to a relocated workers’ cultural adaption to Wimmera life. WDA settlement services manager Sara Barron said Work Stay’s program would focus specifically on the new employee’s engagement with their employer, as well as initial relocation-related requirements, while WDA would continue to provide longer term supplementary assimilation for the new employee. – Michael Scalzo
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Permanent Water Saving Rules
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Sprinklers / water systems
Hand held hoses
Use a leak-free hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle
Use manual or automatic water systems between 6 pm and 10 am
Water features
Use fountains or water features that recirculate the water
Hard surfaces
No hosing of hard surfaces including paths, concrete, decking & driveways.
Public areas
Rules apply to watering of playing surfaces, public gardens & public lawns
Help save water by following the Permanent Water Saving Rules when restrictions are not in force. Wednesday, January 25, 2023
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