What can you do?

We can all use less plastic and put litter in the bin. With just a little bit of planning, it's easy to choose reusable options and refuse single use plastics.  In six simple steps, we can help beat plastic pollution:

1. Bring reusable bags when you go shopping (including netted bags for you fresh produce);
2. Bring a reusable mug to the café 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; and
6. Celebrate using reusable plates/cups and reusable decorations.

What is Council doing?

In July 2018, Council committed to a staged phase out of single-use plastics including straws, cutlery, cups and plates from all Council-run facilities and events. The proposal received unanimous support from Councillors.

Council conducted an audit of the types of single-use plastics used across the organisation, from our childcare centres and Library and Knowledge Centres to sporting facilities, depots and offices, to help us make the move towards more sustainable practices and products.

Some of the actions already undertaken by Council include:

• The BLaKC café in Bankstown rewards customers with a discount when they bring their own mug. They have also taken steps to reduce plastic waste with 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 re-fill stations at the event; and 
• Beginning the process of replacing single-use plastic cups and bottles with reusable bottles, cups and other items at internal events and meetings.

Council has also initiated an audit of the types of single use plastics used across the whole organisation, from our childcare centres and Library and Knowledge Centres to sporting facilities, depots and offices, to help us make the move towards more sustainable products over the coming months.