Clean Life: 5 Tips from Environment Minister Stephen Dawson on Reducing Disposable Plastics

In the first of a four-part series that gives tips on clean living, the person responsible for our ban on disposable plastic bags shares his habits to reduce his environmental impact and explains what other plastic he wants to banned

Although he was a school-age child in Ireland, Stephen Dawson was interested in the environment and joined groups to make a difference.

Several decades later, Dawson is now WAs Environment Minister and one of the most influential voices for the environment in Washington.

His government's announcement last September to follow South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory, banning disposable plastic bags scattered across the state. to do the right thing

He said that the role of the minister opened his eyes to his own use of plastic and the personal role he could play in protecting the environment.

"I'm very sensitive to packaging, but I'm particularly upset about the plastic in fruits and vegetables," Dawson said.

"It's not necessary."

He also avoided buying plastic bottles, plastic bags, and plastic straws, preferred paper straws for his three-and-a-half-year-old son, and wished others would make his plastic impressions relatively easy.

Five tips for cutting plastic for single use at home:

• Get a reusable water bottle and take it with you wherever you go. They will save money and the planet.
• If you drink tea or coffee, you will get a reusable cup. Some stores offer a discount just to have a reusable cup.
• You do not need to align your container with a disposable plastic bag.
• Avoid buying fruits and vegetables packed in plastic. You do not have to be.
• Voice with your feet and speak. Tell the supermarket manager what you think about their plastic surgery and you want to see less disposable plastic in their local stores.

In addition to changing his plastic habits at home and introducing a ban on the bag, Dawson said his next limit was the use of plastic by all government bureaucrats.

"I'm working with the Ministry of Finance and the state government to see how we can reduce the state government's use of plastic cups, plastic plates, knives and forks," he said. he explained.

"Some departments use significant quantities of products, such as plastic sheets, and we want to reduce that number and offer alternatives so that the authorities can reduce their plastic consumption.

For the rest of us, Dawson is already looking beyond the bag ban for the next big change that WA could make to reduce the use of disposable plastics.

"The parents came to tell me that they want to improve the environment and the future of their children," he said.

"A few weeks ago, the European Union published a draft document based on 10 pieces of plastic most commonly found on the coast: straw, stirrers, plates, cups and glass.

"We see it and we see what else we can do to reduce our consumption of disposable plastic, so the Prime Minister is excited and I'm doing this job right now."

He said the biggest complaint about bag bans came from people who use disposable plastic bags as garbage bags.

"Use the newspaper in your container or do not use anything," Dawson said.

"The sad reality is that at least seven million of these disposable plastic bags are thrown into our streets, parks and canals and ultimately kill our animals."

MORE : We answer your questions about the ban on plastic bags

As the controversy over the rights of supermarkets to sell plastic bags continues after July 1, Dawson reiterated that the ban on bags applies only to disposable bags below 35 microns.

"The plastic is not bad, the plastic has changed the world, it's the only plastic we have to get away from," he said.

"I want to take on the challenge of Plastic Free July and do what you can to reduce your plastic footprint and see how you can change your daily life to have a positive impact on the environment."

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