Page 47 - Plastics News July 2019

iNterNAtioNAL News

South Australia Government First Mile and Huhtamaki

proposes ban on single-use plastics partner to promote disposable

cup recycling
he S o uth A us tr al ia
TGovernment is planning to K recycling company First Mile and sustainable food
ban the use of various single-
use plastics, with straws, Upackaging specialists Huhtamaki have partnered
cutlery, and stirrers the first on to boost the effectiveness in disposable cup recycling
its agenda. Several other items across the UK. First Mile will collect used disposable
would then be considered coffee cups from Huhtamaki’s London and Birmingham
for prohibition under the customers and they will then be processed into nutrient-
Marshall Liberal Government’s rich fertiliser through the recycling company’s new
proposed legislation, entitled compostable packaging recycling service. All Huhtamaki
Turning the Tide on Single Use Plastics: The Next cups are made in the UK with 100% PEFC certified paper
Steps. In addition, the government will establish a board from sustainably-managed forests. The company
stakeholder taskforce that will assist the development produces recyclable and compostable paper cups,
of the legislation. The stakeholder meeting would see both of which will be processed by the new recycling
representatives of selected business, industry, local service. According to First Mile, high-quality fibres
government and interest groups working together to are continuously in-demand in the paper industry and
ensure that the potential impact of the bans is kept to a can be recycled up to seven times without losing their
minimum, as well as allowing sufficient time for transition. material integrity. The company said that there are
Following the disclosure of a document earlier this year, already facilities to recycle every paper cup used in the
South Australia environment and water minister David UK through paper
Speirs noted that strong feedback from its residents mills. First Mile
made clear their desire to see measures taken to tackle founder and CEO
the issue of single-use plastics. He said: “In light of this Bruce Bratley said:
overwhelming community support, the Marshall Liberal “With a growing
Government has developed a plan to ban single-use plastic awareness of
products and other single-use items. “At first, we will look recycling and
at products including plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers sustainability, the
with items such as takeaway polystyrene containers and PCRRG reports
cups next. Further consideration would be needed when that paper cup recycling rates have increased from
looking at takeaway coffee cups, plastic bags and other an estimated one in every 400 to one in every 25 in
takeaway food service items following consultation.” The just two years and we’re keen to increase this further
government said that it will release draft legislation for through the work we do. This partnership is a great
further public consultation later in 2019, with plans to collaboration, pairing Huhtamaki’s objective of driving
introduce it to the parliament to follow next year. Speirs long-term sustainability, with First Mile’s innovative
added: “The Marshall Liberal government is committed approach to making recycling easy for businesses.”
to working with the community and stakeholders to Huhtamaki UK general manager Keith Crosley said:
address the impacts of single-use plastic products in South
Australia and to ensure that we continue to maintain this “The cups we manufacture in the UK are sustainably
state’s reputation as a leader in waste management.”In sourced, responsibly produced and fully recyclable. We
a bid to identify opportunities and challenges associated recognise that more paper cups need to be recycled
with transitioning away from single-use plastic products and we are actively working on this to further improve
and inform the legislation, the government is planning to recycling rates. Working with First Mile is a fantastic
pilot the ban on certain items through volunteers from partnership to enable our customers to have their paper
businesses and retailers. cups collected recycled and turned into new products.”

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49 July 2019 Plastics News