Reusing in the bag

Australians use 3.92 billion plastic bags a year – that’s more than 10 million new bags used every day and with Christmas just around the corner, that daily average is sure to spike.
The result is more than 3.7 billion bags dumped in landfill sites – or 429,000 per hour or 7150 per minute – which is having a detrimental impact on our natural environment.
To help raise awareness about this serious environmental issue, Noosa Civic shopping centre is encouraging shoppers to choose reusable bags this festive season and to bring their surplus plastic bags into the centre for recycling.
Centre manager Brian Turner said the #KeepNoosaBeautiful campaign aimed to reduce the number of bags being used in the centre in order to protect the local environment and wildlife.
“In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we’ll be inviting shoppers to not only bring their own reusable bags from home where possible but also share their photos of Noosa’s beautiful natural landscapes to assist in raising funds for local environmental organisation Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (NICA),” Mr Turner said.
“Every time a photo is uploaded to Instagram between now and 24 December using the hashtag #KeepNoosaBeautiful, Noosa Civic will donate $1 to NICA’s environmental projects until we reach our target of $1000. These photos will be placed on display in the centre.”
Shoppers can also purchase a reusable designer shopping bag valued at $25 for just $5 when they visit NICA’s Christmas pop-up booth within the centre, with all funds raised supporting NICA.
NICA Chair Tony Haslam said the organisation was thrilled to be getting behind such a positive environmental initiative and raising awareness of the dangers plastic bags pose to the natural environment.
“Sadly, more than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 mammals die each year as a result of plastic bags and other rubbish being dumped in the world’s oceans,” Mr Haslam said.
“Whales, dolphins and turtles tend to mistake plastic bags for jellyfish or other sources of food, and once ingested, the plastic can prevent food digestion and often lead to a very slow and painful death.”
As part of the campaign, Noosa Civic will have a plastic bag recycling bin set up opposite the Ella Bache store where shoppers can dispose of their used plastic bags.
Recycling organisation Red Cycle will then turn them into useful products such as outdoor furniture and signage.