Farmer’s market organisers teamed up with Kiama Council to help them achieve their goal of a plastic-bag free market 

Deputy Mayor Kathy Rice said the partnership was a fantastic initiative, which would see around 800 fewer plastic bags being used at the markets each week.

“I congratulate everyone from the farmer’s market and the council staff who have worked to make this possible,” Cr Rice said.

“This once again shows how innovative our community can be when it comes to solving problems to do with litter and managing waste.”

The plastic-bag free initiative has been made possible with the recent establishment of the new Boomerang Bags group in Kiama, with the support of council.

Waste management officer, Josephine St John, said the group was now supplying their hand-sewn Boomerang Bags at the markets, for people who forget to bring their own.

“Kiama Boomerang Bags has been going great guns since they started only a couple of months ago, they have produced more than 650 bags so far,” she said.

“The great thing is the bags they make are given away for free from donated old curtains, sheets, clothing and the like. So they are also made from recycled products.”

Ms St John said the Markets were also going polystyrene free as part of the Memorandum of Understanding with Council.

“We’ve also been able to help stall holders prepare for going plastic bag and styrofoam free, by identifying packaging companies that supply compostable packaging such as take away containers and coffee cups,” she said.

The new plastic-bag and polystyrene free initiative will be formally launched at Kiama Farmer’s Market from 2pm, Wednesday, June 7.

This will coincide with World Environment Day, themed ‘Connecting People to Nature’.

Kiama Council will evaluate the initiative before considering whether to extend it elsewhere.