Greens Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith, is calling on everyone in the Byron-Ballina region to give Plastic Free July a try.
“Plastic Free July is an opportunity for us all to look at how we use disposable plastics in our everyday lives and to see whether we can reduce our consumption of them,” said Ms Smith.
“We are half way through July and there are lots of wonderful people and groups in our communities who are taking up the challenge. There is still time for all of us to look for products that have little or no packaging, to use reusable water bottles, try cloth bags instead of plastic or paper, and to recycle.
“It was my pleasure to be able to introduce a bill to ban single-use plastic shopping bags—the Plastic Shopping Bags Ban (Protecting Marine Life) Bill—earlier in the year. The ban would apply primarily to single-use lightweight grocery-style shopping bags, which are often designed to carry groceries and other goods bought from retail outlets. I hope to debate the Bill when parliament resumes in August.
“We have all seen horrendous images of turtles and other marine life ingesting plastic bags and yet it doesn’t change our behaviours. Plastic Free July gives us the awareness to make permanent changes in our habits.
“During the rest of July, I encourage everyone in the Ballina electorate, from Wooyung to Wardell, and from Rous Mill to Byron Bay, to make a commitment to reducing our consumption of just one item of disposable plastic,” said Ms Smith.
For more information visit www.plasticfreejuly.org
Plastic Free July groups and events
The whole town of Mullumbimby is registered to take part in Plastic Free July: www.mullumcares.com.au
To see more about how Mullumbimby's residents and retailers are reacting to Plastic Free July, visit their You Tube special: Word on the Street with Sasha Mainsbridge and Dione Green from Bay FM
Plastic Free July Family Film night – a screening of Bag It! On 27 July 7pm Brunswick Picture House, 30 Fingal St, Brunswick Heads
The Byron Bay Mermaids are hosting their next reusable shopping bag sewing session on Sunday 31 July at Patagonia Byron Bay from 1-5pm.
Plastic Free Byron Shire http://plasticfreebyron.com/