On 5 June 2017, Council resolved to eliminate single-use plastic items in an eight-part resolution.
Every piece of plastic that has ever been made still exists somewhere in the world. Plastic is designed to last forever, yet every day we use many plastic products that are thrown away after only a few minutes. Much of this plastic ends up in landfill or as litter in our environment. It is estimated that eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in freshwater and marine environments each year; polluting water and harming wildlife.
As part of this resolution we have congratulated Aldi, Coles and Woolworths on their decision to not provide plastic bags to shoppers, and have asked other supermarkets in Darebin to follow this example.
We held a Say NO to Single-Use Plastic competition for Darebin's primary and secondary students. Students were asked as part of the competition to design a logo or a fictional character to help us promote plastic waste reduction and encourage buyer and user behavioural change. You can view the winning entrants from the competition.
We'll continue our advocacy to the State Government, but we'll also be working with our community - our residents and traders - to support and encourage them to make a commitment to eliminating single-use plastic.
On 26 February 2018 Council endorsed a new Single-use Plastic Free Events Policy to eliminate single-use plastic products at events run by Council and events held on Council land. The policy extends to all council owned buildings, venues and roads and aims to reduce the harm caused by single-use plastic products.
The policy outlines Councils commitment to:
- Eliminate single-use plastic bags
- Eliminate single-use plastic plates, bowls, cups, straws, cutlery and take away food containers
- Eliminate bottled water, and provide alternative, free access to water
- Avoid plastic packaging
- Eliminate balloons at events
- Reuse event materials where possible
- Educate and guide event staff and audience on single-use plastic free practices
Read the Single-Use Plastic Free Events Policy.
Plastic Free July
Council is proud to support the Plastic Free July challenge again in 2019. Plastic Free July aims to raise awareness of the amount of single-use disposable plastic items we use, and challenges us to do something about it.
You can help reduce plastic consumption by taking one simple action a week, or say NO to all single-use plastics for a day, a week or the whole month.
Week 1: Take your reusable cup to the café next time you’re buying a takeaway coffee or tea. You can also help spread the word by encouraging your friends to bring their reusable cup too, or asking your local café to become a responsible café.
Week 2: Take your reusable bag to the store. Not only are reusable bags more durable, they’re available in different shapes, sizes and colours to suit your needs.
Week 3: It takes between three-seven litres of water and one litre of oil to make just one litre of bottled water1,2. Choose tap water and carry a refillable water bottle with you. Don’t know where to fill up? Find your closest water refilling station here.
Week 4: Go plastic packaging free this week and try a ‘nude’ food lunch. Ditch the plastic wrap and use a lunchbox or fabric wrap for your sandwich instead.
To sign up for the Plastic Free July challenge and for more info, tips and hints, visit the Plastic Free July website here.