Council moves ahead with plastic bag ban

Plans to rid Kiama of plastic bags are already under way and many members of Kiama Council have shown their support for the campaign.

The council’s commitment to the national Are You Ready project was determined at last week’s council meeting as all members have agreed to endorse the campaign and begin plans to eradicate the use of plastic bags in the municipality.

The endorsement of the project follows its success in Tasmania’s Coles Bay, which has been plastic bag-free for more than five years, preventing the use of nearly two million plastic bags.

Kiama Council Director of Environmental Services Andrew Knowlson said the aim of the project was to decrease the use of plastic bags, eventually making Kiama plastic bag-free.

“It is an educational process with the shopping industry and local retailers,” he said.

“At this stage, we are demonstrating our intention to support the use of education and negotiation tools to promote alternatives to plastic bags and invest in a consultation process with businesses.”

Cr Dare-Ward recommended that the council be at the “forefront of the campaign” and be seen to be purposefully following up its message.

She suggested the council distribute information in calico or hemp bags to the community, including bullet point or “bag fact” sheets, outlining environmental benefits and alternatives to plastic.

“We need to have the first decisive step into this campaign and we can distribute the bags through the council, libraries, community groups and sympathetic local businesses,” she said.

“This will be part of our plan of action and is a way of embracing local residents and businesses.”

The council has called for a report into the financial feasibility of the project and a decision will be made at the next council meeting.