Whitsunday Regional Council in collaboration with Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. has launched the ‘Say NO to Plastic Bags’ project with great success.
Council’s Mayor, Councillor Jennifer Whitney said that local traders have shown strong support for the project with many stores already signed up to participate.
“Local retailers participating in the ‘Say NO to Plastic Bags’ project have given the commitment to make a donation to the Whitsunday Marine Debris Removal Program for every plastic bag that is refused by a customer,” said the Mayor.
“This project has been developed to reduce the reliance on plastic bags in the Whitsunday region and to promote the use of biodegradable and re-useable alternatives.”
An estimated 180,000 plastic bags are used in the Whitsunday region every week, contributing to the 50 million plastic bags that end up as litter in Australia each year.
Many of these plastic bags, either accidentally or carelessly, enter waterways where they pose a potential hazard to wildlife if ingested.
Marine turtles are particularly at risk as they are thought to mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, which is the main prey of many species.
Marine biologists from Queensland University have confirmed that approximately 40 percent of autopsied turtles are found with plastics, including plastic bags, in their intestinal tract, highlighting the threat to the iconic marine turtles and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
“By saying ‘no’ to plastic bags you reduce the need to produce them and therefore prevent them accidentally making their way into our marine environment,” said Councillor Whitney.
