It’s time to say bye-bye plastic and hello BYO!
Last modified on 09 July 2018
As the supermarkets ban plastic bags, north shore locals are being asked to say bye-bye plastic and hello to BYO!
As part of Plastic Free July, Ku-ring-gai Council, North Sydney Council and Willoughby City Council have launched a bold new campaign through their Better Business Partnership program called Bye-Bye Plastic.
Each year more than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans and over 90% single-use items such as shopping bags, packaging, cups, bottles, straws and cutlery.
The Bye Bye Plastic campaign invites local businesses and shoppers to visit the website at www.byebyeplastic.com.au and make a pledge to reduce their usage of one or more types of single use plastic.
Mayor of Willoughby City Gail Giles-Gidney, said: “So many residents tell me that they are passionate about this critical issue. The Bye-Bye Plastic Campaign provides a perfect way for locals to demonstrate their support of reducing single-use plastic by making a pledge on the website”.
Ku-ring-gai Mayor Jennifer Anderson agreed: “I am quite sure our community will be supportive of any shop that removes free single use plastic bags. As in the past, we just need to get back into the habit of taking a bag with us when shopping for a few items such as bread and milk.”
Mayor of North Sydney Jilly Gibson echoes this sentiment: “As a harbourside council we are passionate about reducing the volume of plastic litter that ends up in our waterways and therefore proudly support Plastic Free July.”
The three Mayors will launch the campaign at local business Tonic Lane Café and Ginoteria who were the first businesses to get on board.
Lain Tapsall, the owner of Tonic Lane said: “We stopped offering free disposable coffee cups within our business 12 months ago and ask our customers to bring their own re-usable cup. If they don’t have one, we2invite them to adopt a mug which we have purchased from the local St Vincents De Paul. Our customers love it!.”
Businesses and shoppers can pledge now at www.byebyeplastic.com.au. Pledgers can then access website toolkits and other resources to help them to take action.
The Bye-Bye Plastic Campaign is an initiative of the Better Business Partnership; a joint Council service funded by Ku-ring-gai Council, North Sydney Council and Willoughby City Council and is supported by the NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded by the Waste Levy.
Media Opportunity
The Bye-Bye Plastic Campaign will be officially launched by the Mayors of North Sydney, Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby at:
- When: Tuesday 10 July at 10 am
- Where: Tonic Lane Café and Ginoteria Shop 6, 8 Young Lane, Neutral Bay
- What: Photo opportunity featuring the Mayors of North Sydney, Ku-ring-gai and Willoughby outside the first business to join the Bye Bye Plastic Movement.