The NSW Opposition’s rejection of a proposed reusable cup scheme for drinks like coffee, under plastic pollution laws, is short sighted and ignorant, environmentalists said today. 

“They haven’t done their research. Our Plastic Free Places program has worked with hundreds of food service businesses to switch to reusables, saving the expense of constantly having to buy single use cups* and helping stop plastic polluting the environment and our bodies,” said Jeff Angel, Convenor of the Boomerang Alliance of 56 NGOs. 

“The NSW plan for a reusables only precinct in Sydney is nation leading and well informed by existing schemes which further reduce costs such as by having centralised washing facilities and easy cup return arrangements. There are several Australian businesses ready to implement the scheme. It works and the NSW Opposition should get out of the way,” 

“Plastic pollution is a serious concern for the community and the environment and is significantly driven by single use and litter which wastes an enormous amount of resources. 

The plastic and associated toxic chemicals in the billions of cups last for many decades – in fact every bit of plastic produced is still in the environment and breaking up into dangerous microplastics,” Mr Angel said. 

* one single use cup and lid can cost 23cents or more 

Further information: info@boomerangalliance.org.au