Council appeals for shoppers to dump plastic bags

THE people of Cockatoo are being urged to swap plastic bags for more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Cardinia Shire Council and Sustainability Victoria are joining forces with Cockatoo retailers to take up the challenge to make the town plastic bag-free.
The people of Cockatoo are invited to join the challenge, which will start on Australia Day, Friday, 26 January.
The campaign “Cockatoo: a plastic bag free town” will be launched at Alma Treloar Reserve, Pakenham Road on Friday, 26 January between 10am and noon as part of the town’s Australia Day celebrations.
Townspeople will be given free reusable cloth shopping bags, badges and fridge magnets and can enter the plastic bag hat competition for the chance to win some great prizes.
Children can also win prizes by entering a poster competition.
Ranges Ward councillor Graeme Legge said that after the launch of the campaign, retailers will be urging their customers to say no to plastic bags. Cr Legge said people need to also make sure they remember to use their reusable bags whenever they shop in Cockatoo.
“The challenge target is for 80 per cent of retailers in Cockatoo to become plastic bag-free by next year’s Australia Day,” he said.
Cr Legge said research has shown that an average Australian household uses 490 plastic bags each year.
He said people use plastic bags for a short period but the bags have a lifespan of 10 to 1,000 years and in that time have the potential to harm wildlife and pollute the environment.
“By going plastic bag-free, the community of Cockatoo will become part of the solution to the plastic bag problem,” Cr Legge said. “Many of the participating retailers are already selling reusable bags and we hope the launch of this initiative will mean more retailers and the community will start saying no to plastic bags.”
Retailers participating in the challenge include Cockatoo Licensed Supermarket, Cockatoo General Store, Cockatoo Pharmacy, TLC Fruit ‘n Veg, Cockatoo Bakery, Bailey Road Takeaway, Cockatoo LPO, and Rainbow’s End.
People wanting to take part in the challenge can get reusable shopping bags from any of these retailers.
For more information on the challenge contact Tammy Sherar at Cardinia Shire Council on 5945 4304.