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Beat plastic pollution

We're all working together on reducing our dependence on plastics

What is Council doing?
In June 2022, Council’s Plastics Action Plan 2022-2025 and Single-Use Plastics Policy were endorsed as part of our commitment to phasing-out unnecessary single-use plastics from our operations and events by 2025.
 
Some of the actions already undertaken include:
 
  • The BLaKC cafe in Bankstown rewards customers with a discount when they bring their own mug. They have also taken steps to reduce plastic waste by limiting straws and other packaging materials and switching to biodegradable materials
  • Sourcing biodegradable containers and bamboo cutlery for food samples from the main stage at the Bankstown Bites food festival and promoting the use of water bottle refill stations at the event
  • Beginning the process of replacing single-use plastic cups and bottles with reusable bottles, cups and other items at internal events and meetings
What can you do?
With just a little planning, it's easy to choose reusable options and refuse single-use plastics. In six simple ways, we can help beat plastic pollution:
  1. Bring reusable bags when you go shopping (including netted/mesh bags for you fresh produce)
  2. Bring a reusable mug to the cafe or take a few minutes to drink your coffee in-store
  3. Say no to plastic cutlery and straws
  4. Bring your own reusable drink bottle and lunch box
  5. Choose products with less plastic packaging
  6. Celebrate using reusable food ware and decorations
Plastic Bag Ban

Major supermarkets in NSW have now banned single-use plastic bags.​

Currently Australians use 13 million new plastic bags every day! On average, these bags are used for only 12 minutes before being discarded.  Only three per cent are recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills, waterways, backyards and parks where they can last for up to 1,000 years.

Here’s some handy tips on how you can reduce the amount of plastic bags you use:

  • Trial a few different reusable bags and choose the ones you like best.  You can get them from the supermarket or even buy one of the many fashionable options available from retailers
  • Keep some reusable bags in your car, workplace and home ready for when you go shopping
  • Use the reusable bags! The more often you reuse a bag the better it is for the environment
  • When you are at the checkout, practice saying: "No thanks" to plastic bags

You can also replace smaller fruit and vegetable bags!  There are plenty of options available.