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  Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie
Growing support for a ban on single-use plastic bags
17 August 2016
MEDIA RELEASE
Growing support for a ban on single-use plastic bags
The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance has collected over 600 signatures supporting a ban on single-use plastic bags in NSW.  We call on NSW Members of Parliament to follow Tasmania, the ACT, South Australia and the Northern Territory, and enact a ban on single-use plastic checkout bags.
It is estimated that more than 4,000,000,000 plastic checkout-style bags are used in Australia each year, with an estimated 50 million plastic bags ending up in our environment and damaging our ecosystems and wildlife.  Steve Dewar, member of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group said, “Many of our 15 Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups across Lake Macquarie have reported the damage plastic bags are doing to our lake and ocean environment. This is a critical issue that we can fix.”
Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups have been working with Plastic Bag Free NSW to increase pressure on NSW representatives to enact a ban, and taking practical actions to reduce plastic pollution.
  • In Toronto and Redhead, Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers have been identifying local businesses who are ‘Plastic Bag Free Champions’ and are taking steps to reduce or completely phase out the provision of free single use plastic bags to customers.
  • The Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood recently ran a community workshop to help each other make their own reusable bags.
  • Various Sustainable Neighbourhood groups have collected over 1 tonne of litter from around Lake Macquarie since January 2015.
  • The Sustainable Neighbourhood website includes a range of tips to help reduce your own plastic bag use.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods groups will continue their education and awareness campaign at upcoming events such as Lake Macquarie City Council’s Living Smart Festival, Saturday 24 September at Speers Point Park.   “We will also highlight solutions to other plastic pollution.  Plastic caps, straws, lollipop sticks, wrappings, yogurt pouches and plastic-lined coffee cups all harm our environment and there are simple alternatives to reduce their impact.”
“A Container Deposit Scheme is starting in NSW in 2017.  Now is the time to ban single use plastic bags and act on other plastic pollution.”
For more information visit www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/plastic-bag-campaign.
 

Media contact:  Steve Dewar
via admin@sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au
Member, Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group
Board Member, Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance

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Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie
Our vision - Neighbourhoods that are empowered to live sustainably.
Our mission - Our work is to foster sustainable neighbourhoods and a healthy environment in Lake Macquarie
Our values - We are guided by our values of participation, inclusion, collaboration, empowerment and shared responsibility.
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The Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance is registered as a not for profit incorporated association under NSW Fair Trading. Sustainable Neighbourhood activities are managed and governed by volunteers and financed through grants, collaboration and community fundraising.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters on which we live, work and play, the Awabakal People, and acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who now reside in this area. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and future cultural knowledge holders.
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Sustainable Neighbourhoods is an initiative of Lake Macquarie City Council.
www.lakemac.com.au
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We are proud to be a Very Neighbourly Organisation and supporter of Neighbour Day.
www.neighbourday.org