This is huge news. We've even made the New York Times for it!

Thanks

We'd like to thank Alderman Harvey and Alderman Cocker for taking putting it to Council, Plastic Wise Taroona and Zero Waste Tasmania for helping us campaign on it,and YOU and all the other passionate people pushing to put an end to plastic pollution!

But it ain't over yet

As we understand it Council staff will now develop a process for determining the specifics of the change to the by-law, including public consultation. It will be important for us (you included) to raise concerns and promote an approach that will achieve the desired outcomes. Sustainable Living Tasmania will work with Zero Waste Tasmania and Plasticwise Taroona and others to assist the community in understanding the issues and making positive contributions to the public consultation process. Watch this space! Sign up as a member for just $10/year to receive our newsletter.

Some background

• Alderman Bill Harvey and Alderman Phil Cocker put forward the motion for a ban on plastic takeaway packaging.
• 10 out of 11 aldermen voted 'yes' on 7th August 2017. For more information on what the aldermen voted on, read the short report prepared by Council staff, "Plastic Takeaway Packaging Ban"
• We and like-minded community groups drummed up support to demonstrate to the other aldermen that the community really wanted this change. About 70 supporters wrote to the aldermen. You can read our letter to aldermen here.
• Through our Carrot Mob project in 2016 (funded by a Waste Reduction Grant from the Council), we encouraged, supported and rewarded food retailers who voluntarily moved away from plastic takeaway packaging by encouraging customers to eat in or bring their own reusable containers, and by switching to compostable alternatives. This demonstrated that the community is keen, businesses are up for it, and it really isn't difficult or costly to achieve.