LOCAL neighbourhood groups are driving a campaign to have single-use plastic bags banned in NSW.
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The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance has collected more than 600 signatures supporting a ban on the supermarket checkout-style plastic bags.
“We call on NSW members of Parliament to follow Tasmania, the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and enact a ban on single-use plastic checkout bags,” Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group spokesman Steve Dewar said.
“It’s estimated that more than 4 billion plastic checkout-style bags are used in Australia each year, with an estimated 50 million plastic bags ending up in our environment and damaging our ecosystems and wildlife.”
Mr Dewar said many of the 15 sustainable neighbourhood groups across Lake Macquarie had reported damage caused by plastic bags to the lake and ocean environment.
“This is a critical issue that we can fix,” he said.
Sustainable neighbourhood groups have been working with Plastic Bag Free NSW to increase pressure on NSW representatives to enact a ban, and taking practical actions to reduce plastic pollution.
In Toronto and Redhead, sustainable neighbourhood volunteers have been identifying local businesses who are ‘Plastic Bag Free Champions’ and are taking steps to reduce or completely phase out the provision of free single-use plastic bags to customers.
The alliance will continue their education and awareness campaign at upcoming events including Lake Macquarie City Council’s Living Smart Festival, on Saturday, September 24, at Speers Point Park.
Visit sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au
