Central Coast Council are inviting community members to have their say on the Draft Single Use Plastic Policy, which is now on exhibition until Sunday 9 June.

The policy further reinforces Council’s commitment in the elimination of single use plastics and to advocate for legislative change, while educating and building capacity within the community to find suitable alternatives.

Council Mayor Jane Smith said Council has already taken strides in the right direction when it comes to reducing plastic waste.

“The production and use of single use plastics is increasing at alarming rates, causing significant environmental pollution on a global scale,” Mayor Smith said.

“So while thinking globally we are acting locally by working towards reducing the use of single use plastics at all our facilities and when we host events.

“This complements our interim Sustainable Event Management Policy and reinforces the importance of the education programs on offer to involve the community on ways forward to seek alternatives of single use plastics.

“So we will work with the community to reduce single use plastic and to prevent litter from entering our local ecosystems, which is a key focus area in our Community Strategy Plan.

“We will continue to use of influence to lobby all levels of government to drive policy change that reduce production and use of single use plastics.”

Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff added this was an important change for the community to make as part of the war on waste.

Council does not have the statutory powers to prohibit the sale or distribution of single use plastics across the community. Responsibility for this legislative change rests with the State and Commonwealth Governments.

The draft Single Use Plastic Policy is currently on public exhibition until Sunday 9 June via yourvoiceourcoast.com

ENDS