Start with a small change to make a big difference this Plastic Free July

Small changes make a big difference – that’s the message from Council ahead of Plastic Free July. 

Supporting Plastic Free July are (front, L-R) Cr Karen Finzel, Mayor Clare Stewart, Cr Brian Stockwell, and (back, L-R) Waste Manager Kyrone Dodd, Cr Tom Wegener and Cr Joe Jurisevic.

Mayor Clare Stewart said residents could help reduce single-use plastics and other non-recyclable items being sent to landfill just by making simple changes to their daily lives.

“Disposable coffee cups are one item we can all help keep out of landfill just by taking our own reusable cups when buying a coffee,” she said.

“As they can’t be recycled, takeaway cups end up in landfill. And when you consider that it can take up to 30 years for a single-use takeaway coffee cup to break down, it’s easy to see the positive impact bringing your own reusable cup can make if we all do it.”

Noosa Councillors and Council’s Waste Manager Kyrone Dodd will say ‘no’ to disposable coffee cups for Plastic Free July.

“We’d love it if everyone joined us in this one simple action. Just imagine the number of cups we can keep out of landfill if we all start using reusable cups,” Cr Stewart said.

Plastic Free July is a global movement in which millions of people become part of the solution to the plastic pollution problem. 

Non-recyclable single-use plastics account for more than 13% of Noosa domestic wheelie bin contents, as of 2022.

“Think about what changes you can make to help reduce the plastic and other disposable items you send to landfill, make that change early in July so by the end of the month it will be part of your usual routine,” Mr Dodd said.

“During COVID we saw a steep increase in disposable products being sent to landfill so every action we can take today, will help to start turning that trend around.”

Mayor Stewart said Plastic Free July was a great opportunity for businesses, too, to look at the packaging they use and consider what changes they can make to cut down on plastic and other waste in general.

“The cumulative effect when everyone takes just a small step to reduce the amount of plastic and other single-use products we send to landfill is significant.”

Last year, more than 140 million people took part in Plastic Free July worldwide and reduced waste by 2.6 million tonnes,” she said.

For more on Plastic Free July, visit plasticfreejuly.org