Plastic Free July is here! In 2022, it’s more important than ever, with NSW banning a whole heap of single-use plastics later in the year.

Lightweight plastic bags were first cab off the rank, having been banned from 1 June. Next up are single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery, plates and bowls, and expanded polystyrene foodware. All of these will be phased out by 1 November.

It’s now the perfect time to start creating good habits before this ban begins. Many of us have found alternatives to single-use plastics but we can all go one step further and avoid disposable plastic cutlery, plates and cups all together, even when you go to your local café for a takeaway. 

Are you ready to take the Plastic Free July challenge?

You can also get involved in Plastic Free July events across the Northern Beaches with art installations, beach clean ups and a webinar to help you reduce single-use plastics in your life. Check out what's on. 

Our local cafes are also leading the way with great solutions to avoid single-use takeaway coffee cups and are now looking for ways to eliminate disposable takeaway containers too!

Local schools all across the Northern Beaches are made up of little waste warriors – they too are leading the way and have reduced their use of single-use plastics, especially in their canteens. Read some of their amazing stories.

Here’s our chance to go the ‘new normal’ and be part of the circular economy and help save our resources from ending up in landfill and polluting our environment.

Check out Council’s Waste Reduction activities. And if you’re a local business owner, sign up to our Swap for Good program and we’ll help you to start reducing single-use plastics.