Ban the bag gathers pace

THE Noosa Community Biosphere Association’s (NCBA) drive to ban plastic bags in Noosa is about to reach State Parliament when Member for Noosa presents a 1300-signature petition next week.
NCBA vice-president John Wood, along with supporters, presented the petition and 14 letters of support for the campaign to MP Glen Elmes on Tuesday (24 November).
Mr Elmes will now submit the documents to the Queensland Parliament in the final sitting week next week and make a speech in support of the campaign to ban the use of plastic bags in Noosa.
The push to ban the bag comes after the community jury recommended to rid the shire of plastic earlier this year.
One solution to reduce the use of plastic bags is the introduction of Boomerang Bags in local businesses throughout the shire.
Boomerang Bags aim to reduce plastic bag use in the biosphere by offering a sustainable alternative to single-use bags should a shopped forget their reusable bag.
Where Boomerang Bags are available, a shopper can simply pick up a Boomerang Bag and then return it the next time they are shopping.
Boomerang Bags co-founder Tania Potts and one of the regular volunteers at the Boomerang Bags headquarters in Burleigh Heads will be in Noosa on Monday 30 November to show a group of volunteers the art of making a bag from recycled materials and kick-start the Noosa initiative.
Noosa resident and plastic pollution campaigner Desire Gralton has been working with NCBA, the Noosa Men’s Shed, Noosa Council, Peregian Beach shop owners and various other community organisations to get the project up and running.
“We have set ourselves an almighty task of making 2000 re-useable bags for the community of Noosa,” Desire said.
“To accomplish this goal, we need to recruit a small army of locals to contribute their time and cutting, stamping and sewing abilities while meeting other like-minded community members.”
Once Noosa reaches the 2000-bag goal, a number of bag-share or ‘Boomerang Boxes’ will be stocked full of re-useable Boomerang Bags and placed initially throughout the Peregian Beach Village with other shopping areas to follow.
Anyone who would like to be involved can join the group between 9.30am to 2pm on Monday 30 November at the Girraween Sports Complex.
If sewing isn’t your forte, Boomerang Bags are also looking for donations of material (old curtains, sheets and pillow cases work a treat) or other reusable bags that are collecting dust at home and could form part of the bag-share initiative.
Please drop donations of fabrics and bags at collection points; the Bent Banana in Peregian Beach or Source Bulk Foods in Noosa Junction.
For more information, phone Desire on 0427 596 478.