The Illawarra Greens are shining a spotlight on plastic pollution in the Wollongong Council election campaign and want to work with the community to create a "Plastic Free Wollongong."
Greens lead candidate in Ward 3 Jamie Dixon said "We see first hand in Lake Illawarra and along the coastline the impact of plastic pollution in terms of litter but it is also having a devastating impact on birdlife and marine animals.
Greens Get Dirty to Go Plastic Free
The Illawarra Greens are shining a spotlight on plastic pollution in the Wollongong Council election campaign and want to work with the community to create a "Plastic Free Wollongong."
Greens lead candidate in Ward 3 Jamie Dixon said "We see first hand in Lake Illawarra and along the coastline the impact of plastic pollution in terms of litter but it is also having a devastating impact on birdlife and marine animals.
Following ABC's "War on Waste" series and while many in the community are participating in "Plastic Free July", now is the perfect time to look at how council can do more to reduce plastic use, and keep plastic waste from entering our precious waterways including Lake Illawarra, and making it to the ocean.
“The Lake foreshore is a fantastic place for friends and families to get together. Most of our local cafes and takeaways are still supplying large numbers of single use items though.”
“There are education and guidance programs for businesses already out there - the Greens would like to see council take up a guiding role for their implementation throughout Wollongong, and around our waterways is where we can make such a positive change for our local environment. Furthermore, the Greens are committed to strengthening the council's waste policy to phase out the use of single use plastics at events at council venues. Recycling is a good start, but we need to reduce the consumption of single use plastics.”
Speaking in support of the Greens local initiative, Justin Field MLC adds “While Woolworths, Coles and other retailers have taken a big step forward by announcing plans to phase out single use plastic bags, the NSW Government is refusing to lead and ban the bag all together. Where the state Government is failing, the Greens will work at the local level to help individuals and businesses to take steps to reduce plastic waste."
For further information please contact:
Mithra Cox
Greens Candidate for Ward 1, and Lord Mayoral Candidate
E: [email protected]
M: 0410 164 011
W: www.illawarragreens.org.au