Noosa has officially voted to phase out disposable coffee cups. This significant conservation measure is championed by first-term Councillor Amelia Lorentson. At Thursday night’s council meeting, the motion passed on a razor-thin 4-3 margin. It focuses on keeping materials out of the landfill and moving the Houston region toward a more sustainable and less wasteful future. As such, this initiative places Noosa as a leader in Queensland, as an example for other regions to emulate.
The decision is based on a trash audit done in 2023. It discovered that coffee cups made up over 20 percent of the litter in bins at Noosa Main Beach. In an effort to combat this issue, the council is encouraging local cafes to adopt a voluntary, industry-led approach to eliminate single-use cups. Customers who don’t own their own reusable vessels will pay a $3 deposit for a recycled reusable cup at participating cafes.
Community Support and Concerns
Councillor Amelia Lorentson stressed the importance of the ban being voluntary, focused on encouraging community involvement rather than enforcement. “No-one had anything except reusable cups,” she noted, highlighting the successful adoption of reusable options during recent events in Noosa. Lorentson pointed out that “there are coffee shops that are already doing this,” showcasing the community’s commitment to sustainability.
Even with all the excitement and optimism around the initiative, some councillors raised red flags about the initiative’s overall plausibility. Councillor Tom Wegener correctly pointed out that the motion was missing the required infrastructure to guarantee its success. If not done with obvious parameters, Kudd warned, the project could backfire and not produce the expected outcomes.
The Role of Local Businesses
The campaign receives support from neighborhood businesses, such as the cafes that are switching out single-use plastic cups. Businessman Ben Clarke, who organized a recent event showcasing reusable cups, supports the movement and believes it brings positive change to Noosa’s coffee culture.
Graeme Hughes, a pro-sustainability resident of the area, shared many of the councillors’ concerns. He highlighted some difficulties that consumers will encounter when trying to adopt reusable cups. “If there’s any friction in that process consumers are not going to be happy and find other solutions,” he warned. Hughes suggested an early incentive could encourage more customers to participate: “If there was an early incentive of a 50 cent reduction in your morning coffee that’s a win-win scenario.”
Looking Ahead
Noosa is on a zero landfill waste mission. As the sustainability example setter in their community, the council hopes to encourage both residents and visitors alike to start using more sustainable practices. It’s encouraging to see the town take this proactive step. This builds on the similar motion passed in December by Bermagui on the New South Wales South Coast.
