Member Criteria & Benefits

Plastic Free Noosa Member Criteria

In response to the single-use plastic bans by the Queensland State Government in 2021, we have revised our member criteria to expand beyond our initial priority items, and now aim to support and encourage members to work towards zero waste.

Businesses who achieve two out of seven criteria (plus are working towards others) are welcomed as members, those who achieve five of the seven criteria items achieve Champion Status!

Please expand each of our Member Criteria items below to learn more and we look forward to helping you on your journey!

Member Requirements:
  • Must have alternative to plastic water bottles
  • Stock more sustainable alternatives (water in aluminium cans/bottles or glass)
  • Plastic Free Noosa Champion cannot sell plastic water bottles

Alternatives:

Best: Reusable bottles accepted only + refill station Better: Reusable aluminium bottles + reusable glass bottles Good: Single use aluminium cans Okay: Water Box (plant-based carton)
Why?

Plastic bottles form a large component of the litter stream. In the marine environment, they have the potential to survive forever. Once there, they begin to fragment into bite size micro-plastics, killing marine life that mistakes them for food. In a developed nation such as Australia, the need for plastic bottled water is extremely low. In this context, the sale and use of single-use bottled water, which inevitably leads to littering, mismanagement and escape into the environment needs to be reduced if not eliminated.

Member Requirements:
  • Must accept reusables
  • If purchasing Single Use TA cups choose Home Compostable AS 5810 - 2010 or Commercially Compostable AS 4736 - 2010.
  • Encourage customers not to take a lid
  • Consider/Introduce a Mug Library / Reusable Swap System
  • Consider/Introduce Simply Cups Collection

Alternatives:

Best: Only accept reusables & have a Mug Library Better: Simply Cups Collection Good: Home Compostable Okay: Commercially Compostable
Why?

Single-use takeaway coffee cups and lids are one of the greatest pollutants in our community today. In fact, Australians consume over 2.7 million takeaway coffee cups each day, that's close to a billion every year - what's worse, this statistic is rapidly climbing! The plastic lining in the cup means the majority of cups are not recyclable, and instead end up in landfill. If mismanaged they have the potential to end up in our oceans. Coffee cup lids are usually made of polystyrene (Plastic Code 6 PS), a particularly toxic and problematic source of marine plastic pollution. Lids often escape bins and landfill, ending up in the ocean.

Member Requirements:
  • Member to collect & recycle eligible containers for the Containers for Change scheme.
  • Create a scheme number and organise an onsite Containers for Change collection bin or organise own return to a depot.
  • Consider putting funds back into environmental programs or donate to environmental cause
Why?

26% of the volume of waste found in a commercial or industrial general waste bin in Noosa is in fact recyclable materials (2021 Noosa Council). Depending on each individual business's waste infrastructure, this contamination could be due to the recycling bin reaching capacity before it is collected, or simply due to the team not being across what is recyclable in Noosa Shire today.

Since 2018, a state-wide container refund scheme, known as Containers for Change, has been in place across Queensland incentivising the collection and return of eligible containers for recycling, in exchange for a 10-cent refund payment. Containers for Change helps to reduce the amount of drinking containers that are littered in the environment and increases our state's recycling rate.

Member Requirements:
  • Encourage customers to bring reusables
  • If TA food is provided, provide in reusable containers
  • For TA food - If you do need disposable alternatives, consider uncoated paper, bamboo, wood or sugarcane pulp.
Why?

The Queensland State Government's ban on single-use plastic takeaway food containers, cutlery and straws means businesses are now using recyclable or compostable food containers, hot and cold beverage containers, cutlery and straws. Good riddance to that toxic single-use takeaway plastic packaging!

Unfortunately, takeaway packaging (whilst recyclable or compostable) is still being littered into the Noosa Biosphere Reserve. We know this how? On average, at least 50% of waste collected during a Plastic Free Noosa beach clean-up is some form of single-use takeaway food or beverage container, cutlery or straws.

Member Requirements:
  • Review supply chain and where possible source wholesale products in bulk sizing
  • Opt for products featuring plastic free, recyclable or reusable packaging
  • Put pressure on your wholesalers to provide plastic-free/sustainable packaging solutions
  • Separate bulk soft plastics, cardboard and polystyrene and organise collection by Noosa Council
Why?

Manufacturers and distributors are listening to public concerns and are taking responsibility for their environmental impact by adopting more sustainable product packaging design solutions. From upcycled or recycled materials to replace toxic polystyrene, to choosing recyclable and biodegradable cardboard cartons and adhesives - wholesale products supplied in sustainable packaging are becoming increasingly available.

Member Requirements:
  • Divert kitchen waste and food scraps away from landfill and compost organics on-site.
  • Collaborate with a community organisation or business in need of compostable organics for their permaculture garden or farm.
Resources:
Compost Connect
Why?

Food for thought...a banana peel buried in landfill can take up to two years to break down. Considering 36% of the volume of waste found in a commercial or industrial general waste bin in Noosa is kitchen and food waste (2021 Noosa Council), two years just for a banana peel is staggering! Unfortunately, when organics are not diverted from general waste and are buried in landfill, the waste has no oxygen and produces methane gas which is 28 times more potent a greenhouse gas emission than CO2. The emissions from Noosa's landfill account for 63% of the Noosa Council's total emissions.

Member Requirements:
  • Reduce unnecessary waste created by amenities and choose to source bulk refillable solutions.
  • Choose local suppliers where possible
Why?

Single-use mini toiletries, dishwashing detergent and laundry powder in accommodation facilities are a prolific source of single-use plastic packaging waste finding its way to Noosa landfill (mismanagement can lead to litter in the environment). To break this down, a Plastic Free Noosa Champion prevented an estimated 66,000 single-use amenity bottles and wrappers from entering circulation in just 10 months by using bulk refillable solutions.

The Goal

Divert from landfill, aim for zero waste

Plastic Free Noosa is a community plan with an aspirational goal to become a community where it is easy to avoid unnecessary single-use plastics, because it simply isn't available anymore.

Plastic Free Noosa Member Benefits

Noosa is leading the charge to become Australia’s first plastic free community. By joining Plastic Free Noosa, your business is playing an extremely important role in this environmental stewardship, and as a member you will enjoy the following benefits;

  • Plastic Free Noosa Member Pack (physical ‘compostable’ sticker and certificate to display at business + digital versions for online usage).
  • Plastic Free Noosa Directory Listing
  • Mentions via Plastic Free Noosa Instagram and Facebook
  • Notifications on plastic free supplier discounts
  • Plastic Free Noosa Champions also receive the following additional opportunities;
    • “Meet the Champions” Blog Features (with advertising campaign support)
    • Presenting rights to beach cleanups
  • Members who are also Tourism Noosa Members will receive the following additional opportunities;
    • Additional mentions via Tourism Noosa enewsletters and social media
    • Possibility of showcasing / selling merchandise at the Noosa Visitor Information Centre

Get involved

Ready to go plastic free? Plastic Free Noosa helps to protect the environment by empowering the Noosa community in eliminating single-use plastics through direct engagement, recognition and facilitating circular economies.

Go plastic free

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