Central Coast Council is waging a war on single use plastic bags and is looking to partner with local fruit and vegetable suppliers to provide customers with free reusable produce net bags.

This initiative follows on the success of the recent reusable coffee cup campaign where 27 cafes distributed 5300 cups, highlighting Council’s commitment to help reduce single use litter and ‘Keep the Coast Clean’.

Council Unit Manager Learning and Education, Beth Burgess is encouraging fruit and vegetable suppliers across the Coast that accept reusable produce bags to come on board with this initiative.

“Following the ban of single use plastic bags at the checkouts of major supermarkets, we thought the next logical action was to encourage our residents to also bring reusable bags for their fresh produce,” Mrs Burgess said.

“To make it as easy as possible for our community to make the change, we have a limited amount of reusable produce net bags, to provide to select locally owned and run fruit and vegetable suppliers, who in turn will provide to their customers for free.

“Right now we are looking for local fruit and vegetable businesses that want to become part of the solution to help encourage behaviour change in our community to come forward.

“Businesses that would like to participate are required to put forward their expression of interest in writing to Sara.Blanchfield@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au by 5pm Monday 22 October 2018.”

Evaluation and assessment of expressions of interest will be based on the following criteria and weighting (%); participation in programs/projects that promote environmentally sustainable practices 70%, organisation type 25%, acceptance of net bags 5%.

The net bags, which will be purchased from a local supplier, can hold up to two kilograms, are machine washable and help keep food fresher for longer.

Council Mayor Jane Smith said reducing and preventing litter as well as strengthening the community’s positive environmental behaviours were key objectives under the Green theme of the Community Strategic Plan.

“The growing issues of litter, waste minimisation and plastic pollution cannot be tackled by Council alone,” Mayor Smith said.

“It is all our responsibility to protect and care for our natural areas and this is one simple yet effective way our community can make a difference.

“I applaud Council staff for their ingenuity and determination to help residents eliminate daily plastic waste and after the triumph of the coffee cup initiative earlier in the year I look forward to seeing an increased use of reusable produce bags in our community.”

The initiative forms part of Council’s commitment to the Don’t be a Tosser! campaign this financial year, which continues to remind residents and visitors to dispose of waste responsibly.

Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/littering for information on litter prevention and how to report littering from a vehicle.