Take up the challenge to go plastic-free

The community is being encouraged to consider the environment by participating in Plastic Free July.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the problems with single-use disposable plastic and challenges people to do something about it.

Say No to Plastic Bags in Bunbury founder and coordinator Carmen Kowal said there was 100,000 West Australians taking part in this year’s challenge and more than one million people worldwide.

“Plastic cups, water bottles, straws, plastic plates and cutlery are some of the items littered around Bunbury,” she said.

Mrs Kowal said measures to reduce unnecessary plastic waste included using fabric bags and reusing water bottles, straws and coffee cups.

“Four billion plastic bags are used each year in Australia, which is 10 million or so used a day,” she said.

“Fifty million of these end up in our waterways and ocean.”

Mrs Kowal said 15 cafes in Bunbury were taking part in the Responsible Cafes initiative, which involved customers bringing their own reusable coffee cup to participating cafes and receiving a 20 cent to $2 discount.

Nine shops in the area are also doing their part by hosting Boomerang Bags at their shops in a bid to get people to stop using plastic bags.

Boomerang Bags are fabric bags, which are available to customers to use and then can be returned.

Mrs Kowal said she hoped to see these measures continue beyond July but said it was great to see people “take small steps” to contribute to zero waste living.