Two young women in our community recently decided that it was time to step up and do something to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that Lorne utilises. Lorne’s not different from other towns on the planet which also utilise plastic in carry bags, food and drink containers etc. We are all aware of the enormous impact the disposal of such plastic items is having on the environment; in our seas and in the growth of landfill. But Sarah Harbison and Siana Wijono decided that the time was right to take some affirmative action in Lorne.
Their approach to achieve a reduction in the use of single-use plastic is at the heart of this story. It’s very easy to say to businesses, “you are harming the environment by your use of single-use plastic, stop it!” It’s quite another thing to talk collaboratively to business operators about the issue and determine if, over time, a solution can be implemented. It’s not about giving the business operator a problem, it’s about working together on a solution.
In that respect, Sarah and Siana had a very quick win. They talked to Jonn Stewart, store manager at Lorne Foodworks and they came on board immediately. Foodworks announced that they would abolish the use of single-use plastic bags from January 2018. In the meantime, they are providing cardboard boxes and selling paper bags and reusable bags. They have also provided free of charge three reusable bags to every household in Lorne. They implemented a charge for single-use plastic bags and announced that funds raised from the sale of all bags would be donated to local community organisations.
At the end of the first week of this new system, they reported that having served over 5,500 customers, they had provided 28 plastic bags, 592 paper bags and 138 reusable bags! You can keep track of Foodworks commitment to reducing the use of plastic on their Facebook page at – facebook.com/foodworkslorne/.
There are already a number of businesses in Lorne using paper bags as an alternative to plastic. Sarah and Siana have also talked to other local businesses who are coming on board. Grant and Di at Lorne Surf Shop have decided to move to paper bags instead of plastic. It’s more cost and more storage but another example of how good ideas which are good for the environment will take off.
Sarah and Siana are now investigating a revolutionary approach to replacing single use take away coffee cups with a product that is collapsible and reusable and would be standard across all cafés in town. They recognise that abolition of singleuse plastic is a big ask and it’s not going to happen after night. As Siana says, “that shouldn’t stop anyone asking the question, what can I do?” They recognise that change will only come with solutions which business operators are happy to implement and that means talking to the operators and jointly developing solutions for change.
The Committee for Lorne is fully supportive of this initiative. The major premise of our plan, “Achieving Lorne’s Aspirations” is recognition of the need for sustainability and the preservation of our unique environment. What Sarah and Siana have done is to “step up” and start to do something about reducing the amount of single-use plastic in Lorne.
The way they have gone about it through collaboration with business operators has delivered speedy results. Their visionary thinking about reduction of single use takeaway coffee cups is just one example of the commitment to this project. They are leading the charge and there a now many enthusiastically following. You can follow their progress on Facebook at – facebook.com/Lorne-goes-plasticfree-168103090395181/.
Peter Spring
Committee for Lorne
