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Push for plastic free Victoria Park gathers momentum

Aaron CorlettSouthern Gazette

Volunteer events and change organisation Vic Park Collective is behind the Plastic Free July initiative in the area.

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Marc Allen, who heads up the sustainability subcommittee at the Vic Park Collective, said the area had one of the longest cappuccino strips in Perth and more than 400 restaurants in the area.

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“We’d like to encourage customers to take the initiative and bring their own containers when collecting takeaway food, to do their bit to help minimise plastic waste,” he said.

“We have had a fantastic response to the initiative, but by no means have our volunteers asked all 400 restaurants in Victoria Park, so please let this be the motivation to ask the question yourself next time you order takeaway.”

Jewel in the Park owner Amar Singh said they had recently been giving out brown paper bags with takeaway meals.

“We also give out recyclable plastic bags and cloth bags that you see at supermarkets,” he said.

Jay’s Masala Junction is among the businesses that have signed up to the Plastic Free July challenge.

Owner Jay Clarke said they would be encouraging customers to bring in their own containers.

“We are also looking at selling tiffin containers and offering customers 10 per cent off their meals,” he said.

“The costs of buying plastic containers aren’t huge; you can buy 500 for about $80 but for us it’s about being environmentally friendly. We want to spread the message and I think this is a nice idea.”

Zero-waste educator Lindsay Miles, author of the Treading My Own Path blog, lives in the Town of Victoria Park.

She said her lifestyle change started in 2012 when she agreed to take part in the Plastic Free July challenge.

She said she used to believe that having a full recycling bin meant she was being environmentally responsible but then felt she needed to do even more.

Ms Miles said she believed that change must come from individuals, rather than waiting for change.

“Businesses, companies and government react to what we want,” she said.

“Showing them there is a practical alternative helps this.

“We need to be doing what we can rather than waiting for others to make changes”.

For a list of participating businesses in the Victoria Park Plastic Free July challenge, head to www.vicparkcollective.com/plastic-free-july.

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