Media release, 20 June 2007

Kimberley stores say NO to plastic bags

Small businesses across the Kimberley are helping to reduce the 25.7 million plastic shopping bags that end up in landfill and the environment in the region each year by taking part in the Clean Up Australia Say NO to Plastic Bags campaign.

30 stores in Kimberley towns and remote aboriginal communities have already registered for the campaign, the first step towards ending use of plastic bags in the region altogether. Stores involved are provided with reusable bags, promotional materials as well as staff training on the harmful effects plastic bags have on the environment to help kick-start the use of reusable bags at the checkouts.

Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan AO said it’s encouraging to see so many local businesses getting involved in the campaign. “There are 30 stores involved already and that shows that businesses care about the Kimberley. We are aiming for 40 stores to get involved and I think that the level of interest is there,” Mr Kiernan said. “Australians use 3.92 billion plastic bags a year - that's over 10 million new bags being used every day.
“We need to reduce that number significantly in order to protect our environment and we need the support of businesses to do that.”

Participating stores are being encouraged to sell the reusable bags they receive and use the proceeds to reinvest in their own branded reusable bags.

This project is funded by the Federal Government’s Envirofund and the Principal Partner of Clean Up the Kimberley, COLORBOND® steel, who have just announced their continuing support of the campaign for 2007-2008 announced Ian Kiernan.

“COLORBOND® steel is used absolutely everywhere. And for good reason - it provides a total solution for many people with their roofing, guttering, walling and fencing. This is especially true in the Kimberley so the support of COLORBOND® steel is a very natural fit.”

Campaign manager Jake Zahl is hoping this project will lead to a large reduction in plastic bag use in the region.

“Plastic bags are incredibly harmful to our environment – littering creeks, rivers and the ocean and are a hazard for wildlife. “We really need to get serious about ridding the environment of plastic bags and making the switch to the environmentally-friendly reusable bags. This program will give businesses the kick-start they need to make the move.”

Follow up surveys to determine the number of plastic bags in landfill and the environment around the Kimberley will be conducted later this year.

The project is part of the broader Clean Up the Kimberley campaign, a series of community action based projects designed to enhance and promote environmental, social and economic sustainability in the Kimberley region.

Further information:
Jake Zahl, 08 9193 5921, email: jake@cleanup.com.au,
Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656