By Kath Gannaway
There was sewing and singing in the street in Healesville on 1 July with the official launch of Plastic Bag Free Healesville (PBF HV).
The community-driven campaign to facilitate the use of re-usable shopping bags over plastic bags started last year, and is part of a growing initiative across Yarra Ranges Shire with Warburton and The Dandenong Ranges also pushing for plastic bag-free shopping.
Hundreds of ‘boomerang’ bags made by PBF HV members and supporters were given to the Healesville IGA which has gone plastic bag-free, and a number of businesses have also purchased purpose-made calico bags to replace plastic.
The launch was a community event with environment groups Healesville Environment Watch Inc (HEWI) and Mt Toolbewong Landcare providing advice on ways to cut down on plastic bag and plastic use in general.
The choir put together for the event got the message across with specially written lyrics, and Badger Creek Primary School drew people in with sizzling sausages.
PBF HV members demonstrated just how easy it is to make bespoke and beautiful, shopping bags.
Healesville IGA has committed to going plastic bag-free, and Coles and Liquor Land helped raise funds by going plastic bag-free for the day.
PBF HV member David Johnston said it was a fantastic launch that created a focus of merriment in the main street and raised awareness.
“A lot of people showed great interest in the information our group, HEWI and Mt Toolbewong Landcare had to offer,” he said.
A substantial number of calico bags were sold on the day, and the group has had to restock the ‘boomerang’ bags at IGA.
“I don’t think that Healesville, or anywhere, will be plastic bag-free, or plastic-free, but we’re really pleased and encouraged that Tony (Yang), the owner of our IGA, and their manager, Leonie, have come on board,” David said.
The idea behind the ‘boomerang’ bag is that people use them and return them.
If they are too beautiful to return, David said the hope was that having got them for free, people would keep them and use them.
The group will continue to make the bags, and welcomes volunteers to join them. Also, donations of materials can be left in the PFB HV bin at Healesville Community Link.
PBF HV would like to hear from businesses interested in using or selling their calico bags. Phone Ria on 0402 692 053, or David on 0419 002 797, or message through Facebook – plasticbagfreehealesville .
