THE ‘Single Use Plastic Free Council Run Events’ policy has been re-adopted by the Council at the November Council Meeting in a bid to significantly reduce the waste from single use plastics and the impact on the environment.
The policy, which was initially endorsed last year, outlines Council’s commitment to eliminating single use plastic bags, plates, bowls, balloons, cups and cutlery, and limiting the use of water bottles and plastic packaging at its events.
The policy also guides Council in attempting to reuse event materials wherever possible and educate event staff and attendees on single use plastic free practices.
It was initially implemented with a one-year transition period, allowing for distribution of resources and information, adaption and community awareness. However due to the impact of COVID, very few Council run and managed events were able to be held in the past 12 months preventing the policy from being fully implemented.
As a result, Council has re-instated the policy with a two-year extension period in the hope that events will be able to resume safely once again.
“The events industry has suffered significantly over the past two years due to the pandemic, with many local events having to be cancelled or run virtually,” Mayor Cr Kim O’Keeffe said.
“It is hoped in the near future events will resume safely and the policy can be implemented and tested appropriately via an extended two-year trial period on Council run and managed events.”
The policy complements Council’s push to be a leader in sustainability, following the moves to declare a Climate Emergency, the purchase of renewable energy, adding electrical vehicles to its fleet and the introduction of solar onto council-owned buildings.
