Sasha Mainsbridge
Now in its tenth year, Plastic Free July is testament to the appetite of the masses to reduce their negative impact on the planet.
Over 250 million people in 177 countries have signed up to the challenge, and in the Byron Shire, groups such as Mullum Cares and Plastic Free Byron and businesses including Santos and The Source have inspired most locals to ditch easily avoided single use plastics like bags, straws and water in plastic bottles.
If you want to encourage any laggard cafes and restaurants to get with the program and stop supplying plastic pollution, please encourage them to seek support from www.plasticfreebyron.com.
This year, Mullum Cares is being supported by Aussie fashion legend, Jenny Bannister, to shine a light on fabric waste as another source of plastic that needs serious consumer attention and efforts to reduce.
Unlike normal ‘plastic’ that has some chance of being recycled and reused, waste fabric can’t be placed in your recycling bin – even if it’s 100 per cent plastic.
Mullum Cares wants a resource revolution in the Northern Rivers, beginning with a feasibility study into a local reverse garbage operation. Plastic Free July will see the launch of a range of online upcycling resources to support locals to stop landfilling fabric (or dumping unsellable garments at op shops). See Mullum Cares Facebook page for more details.
♦ Sasha Mainsbridge is from Mullum Cares.
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