Help local businesses switch to plastic free

How are your local shops going in the transition away from single use plastics?
Steve has recently completed an audit of Lake Macquarie cafes to determine their current use of single use plastic bags, coffee cups and plastic straws.

You can help encourage your local cafe. Ask what they currently do and if they have any plans to change. Congratulate those businesses who are making changes, and support those who are considering it. More enquiries sends a message about what customers want.

Some ideas you could suggest:

• Train staff to stop automatically including a straw in drinks. Only provide a straw if someone asks for one. We recognise that plastic straws are an important tool for many people with a disability.
  
• Offer a discount for customers who bring their own coffee cup. Responsible Cafes
• Allow customers to bring their own container. Trashless Takeaway
• Switch from single use plastic bags. Alternatives could be paper bags where necessary or boxes. Encourage customers to bring their own bags.
• Offer to set up and monitor a bag swap station to help customers who forget to bring their shopping bags.

Please let us know if you'd like to add cafes, or update our listing.

Find out more about our work towards a plastic free Lake Mac