Breaking News
'No plastics' plan catches on up north
John Morcombe
9 May 2008
HAVING watched Manly's bid to rid the region of plastic, Pittwater Council and a group of Avalon residents have now launched their own campaign to reduce supermarkets' use of plastic bags.
With a refurbished Woolworths due to open in Avalon next month, the council is keen to see the retailer take steps to enforce more environmentally friendly policies.
On Monday night Pittwater Council voted to organise a meeting with Woolworths and a group of Avalon residents in a bid to cut plastic bag use at the Avalon supermarket.
The move follows an attempt by Manly Council to cut the use of all plastics, including bags, at Totem shopping centre at Balgowlah.
Pittwater councillor Alex McTaggart, who moved the motion to approach Woolworths, said "the council is not trying to solve the world's problems".
"We just want to act locally to reduce the problem," he said.
Avalon resident Simon Morgan said he spent a lot of time on the water and saw plastic bags washed ashore in all the bays in Pittwater. "We must reduce this blight in our backyard," he said.
Cr Natalie Stevens said supermarkets in other suburbs should also be approached about reducing the use of plastic bags.
A Woolworths spokesman said his company would be happy to sit down with the council and community representatives.
He said Woolworths had tried to reduce the use of plastic bags but had noticed a levelling-off in the take up of enviro bags, "suggesting use of plastic bags is deeply ingrained".
"We're talking with state and federal governments about ways of reducing the use of plastic bags, either by a levy or an outright ban," he said.
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