STATE and local government officials have thrown their support behind the push to ban plastic bags in the Noosa community.
Speaking in Parliament last week, Noosa MP Glen Elmes said he supported the Noosa Community Biosphere Association’s drive to rid the shire of single-use plastic bags.
“Single-use plastic bags do not just affect our oceans but have some significant impact on our land environment as well,” Mr Elmes said.
“Whether it is the exorbitant and ever-increasing cost borne by local councils who have to clean up plastic litter to the high cost of production of single-use plastic bags, there can be no doubting the urgency of a sensible management strategy.”
Mr Elmes said the Noosa community had prided itself on being a natural and sustainable environment and “single-use plastic bags have no place in it”.
As part of his speech, Mr Elmes presented to Parliament a 1300-signature petition as well as letters of support for the banning of plastic bags in the Noosa shire.
“In Queensland we are yet to decide whether this is an issue to be tackled top down from the State Government or bottom up through local people in local communities taking local action … I will support either of the two,” he said.
Noosa Council has also come out in support of the community drive to ban plastic bags by purchasing a batch of Boomerang Bags for staff to use instead of plastic bags.
Noosa Council community engagement manager Deb Bambrook said while the council supported calls for a state-wide ban on plastic bags, the Noosa community’s Boomerang Bag initiative was a great way to reduce waste in the interim.
Noosa is one of 15 communities to join the Boomerang Bag movement, with a group of Noosa residents led by Desire Gralton making the bags.
“We aim to sew 2500 Boomerang Bags to leave at participating shopping precincts so people who have forgotten their re-useable bags can grab a Boomerang Bag for free and go shopping without having to take home plastic bags. They can bring their Boomerang Bag back next time,” she said.
