By KATH GANNAWAY
A CAMPAIGN to make Warburton a plastic bag free zone will be launched on 29 July with the showing of the film ‘Bag It’ at the Warburton Arts Centre.
But the group behind the initiative, Plastic Bag Free Warburton, says there is an opportunity throughout July for residents to get become acclimatised.
PBFW wants the town at the end of the line, and the headwaters of the Yarra River, to lead the way with a flow-on effect all the way down the river.
PBFW spokesperson, Michelle Fisher, said there had been growing community interest within the town to ditch plastic bags for the sake of the environment.
“We believe this initiative would not only benefit our environment, but would also be another great way to promote Warburton as a tourist destination,” Ms Fisher said.
The group will be working with Yarra Ranges Council, local businesses and residents to help with the transition from plastic to alternatives.
Ms Fisher said almost 90 per cent of 158 people surveyed online and at the recent Ecotopia Festival supported the idea, with cost and inconvenience being the main concerns of those who didn’t.
More than half said they were already using more environmentally friendly bags.
Cloth bags were identified as the most popular alternative, but Ms Fisher said there were lots of options, many of which were common practice before plastic bags came on the scene 30 years ago.
“Humans are adaptive creatures,” she said.
“We can break a 30-year habit easily.”
The Yarra River is central to the campaign, and to many of the reasons why plastic bags are increasingly seen as bad news for wildlife and the broader environment.
Ms Fisher said single use plastic bags were responsible for killing tens of thousands of birds, whales, seals and turtles every year.
“Plastic bags love to hitch a ride to the sea via drains and rivers, killing the occasional platypus and turtle on the way,” she said.
“Making Warburton plastic bag free could create a ripple effect down the Yarra River, encouraging all the towns along the river to follow.”
PBFW is encouraging Warburton residents, and others right across the Yarra Ranges, to use July as a practice run.
Plastic Free July is a worldwide call to arms that aims to raise awareness of the amount of single-use disposable plastic in everyday use and challenges people to do something about it.
There are lots of options, other than going cold turkey.
People can sign up for anything from one day to a week or month to steer clear of any single-use item at all, or choose one or more of the top four – plastic bags, water bottles, takeaway coffee cups or straws.
Visit www.plasticfreejuly.org to commit.
‘Bag It’ will screen on 29 July, followed by a Q&A panel and discussion that includes residents of other Australian towns that have gone plastic bag free.
“This evening will be a great opportunity for people to become informed, have any concerns addressed and give feedback and suggestions,” Ms Fisher said.
Visit www.plasticbagfreewarburton.com.au for more information and to donate to the campaign fund and be in the running for some fun prizes.
And, tell us at the Mail what you think.
Could Warburton be the first town in Yarra Ranges to ditch plastic bags?
Post on the Mail News Group facebook page, or email to editor@mailnewsgroup.com.au.
Behind the bags
– Australians use 10.6 million bags every day.
– Approximately 30 to 50 million end up on beaches, streets and parks annually.
– Single use plastic bags kill tens of thousands of birds, whales, seals and turtles annually.
– 200,000 plastic bags go into landfill every hour.
– It can take up to 1000 years for a plastic bag to break down.
