Old Lira staff member Alex Dragicevich, co-owner Fabio Nicotra and staff member Sarah Zollo.
Camera IconOld Lira staff member Alex Dragicevich, co-owner Fabio Nicotra and staff member Sarah Zollo. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Local businesses embrace plastic free status

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

FOOD businesses and markets in the Town of Bassendean have eliminated 26,300 plastic items in the past six months after becoming plastic free champions.

Ten businesses and markets including O2 Café, Old Lira Pizzeria and the Old Perth Road Markets joined the Boomerang Alliance’s inaugural WA Plastic Free project.

Some businesses in the City of Bayswater have also recently signed up to the project, which was funded by the Waste Authority WA.

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The project targets single-use plastic items which represent prolific sources of the litter stream, including water bottles, cutlery, cups, plates, straws, coffee cups and lids, takeaway containers and plastic bags.

These items were replaced with reusable or 100 per cent compostable alternatives.

According to the project’s final September report, the plastic items saved related only to Bassendean food businesses, as it was too early to gather data from businesses and food trucks in Bayswater that recently joined.

There were a minimum of 3000 straws, 1200 coffee cups, 12,200 coffee lids, 1220 takeaway containers and lids, 6400 pieces of cutlery and 1880 water bottles saved.

Michelle Glass (Owner, O2) looking forward to opening her new bar at O2 in Bassendean.
Camera IconMichelle Glass (Owner, O2) looking forward to opening her new bar at O2 in Bassendean. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis www.communitypix.com.au d490950

Bassendean chief executive Peta Mabbs said event organisers of Town-sponsored events also ensured to be free of single-use plastics.

“To achieve reductions, there has been work undertaken to engage directly with food outlets, events and markets to join as a member and switch away from single-use plastics, either through elimination or replacement with reusable or 100 per cent compostable alternatives,” she said.

“We still have a long way to go but if we could all consider the small changes that we can make in our daily lives to reduce the use of single use plastics (including balloons), we can make a significant difference to the state of our environment today and for future generations.

“We are working closely with the Waste Authority, the East Metropolitan Regional Council and other stakeholder groups and the community to promote understanding of resource recovery.”

WA Plastic Free program coordinator Amy Matheson said working with locally owned and operated businesses to achieve their plastic free journey was the biggest highlight.

“Working with locally owned and operated businesses, who are passionate about their community and the health of their local environment has been incredibly inspiring,” she said.

“Businesses often face barriers when trying to switch, this includes a lack of time to research options, becoming overwhelmed with the process, or encountering false information which leaves many business owners cynical, deflated and disempowered.

“We love working to give them the tools they need to reenergise them to continue their journey towards waste reduction.”

She said if more funding was obtained, the alliance wanted to expand the program into other areas and increase the reusable coffee cup and container network in Perth.

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