Woolworths may have put plastic bags in the headlines with its announcement this week, but for one Launceston group, they are only part of the problem.
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Plastic Free Launceston will hold its Plastic Free July launch at TasTAFE Drysdale on Tuesday, signalling the beginning of a month’s worth of community-based initiatives designed to reduce the amount of single-use plastics in Launceston.
It comes after Woolworths said it would hand out free reusable bags for the next 10 days to help customers in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia adjust to its ban on single-use plastic bags.
With single-use plastic bags having been banned in Tasmania since 2013, Plastic Free Launceston spokeswoman Trish Haeusler said it was difficult to understand the indignance of mainland shoppers.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it on the radio,” she said.
“There must be an important piece of information they are missing.
“I’ve got a few friends who use those bags as bin liners, so I guess that would be one plus if they were given out for free down here.”
Reusable bags of a different kind will be made at Saturday’s Harvest Market, with the Women’s Friendship Group sewing up bags for a small donation in aid of Plastic-Free July.
They will be joined by Ms Haeusler, who will be at the market each week of the month with other members of Plastic Free Launceston.
The group is also preparing to host its own bag making workshop on July 15 at Launceston Grammar Junior School. For more information, or to get involved in one of the events, visit plasticfreejuly.org.