Awareness of the damage done to the environment by plastic pollution has grown significantly over the past few years.  This year’s World Environment Day campaign challenged us all to #BeatPlasticPollution.

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. Take reusable bags  when you go shopping;
2. Take 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. Take your own drink bottle and lunch box;
5. Choose products with less plastic packaging; and
6. Pick up litter and put it in the correct bin.

The major supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths, Harris Farm and IGA) have now joined states such as Queensland and Western Australia to implement a ban on stores giving away free single use plastic bags. So it's time to remember your reusable bags when you go to the shops – it's good for the environment and you'll save money. Find out more about the change including how to recycle soft plastics (hint, it's not in your yellow bin). 

What is Council doing?

In July, the City of Canterbury Bankstown committed to phasing out single-use plastics, including straws, cutlery, cups and plates, from all Council-run facilities and events. The proposal received unanimous support from councillors.

Some of the actions already undertaken by Council include:

• The BLaKC café has joined the Responsible Café program and will reward customers with a discount when they bring their own mug, as well as the Last Straw program, which encourages customers to use fewer plastic straws;
• Sourcing biodegradable containers and bamboo cutlery for food samples from the main stage at the Bankstown Bites Food Festival and promoted the use of water bottle re-fill stations at the event; and 
• Beginning the process of replacing single-use plastic cups and bottle with re-usable 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. Find out more about the commitment here