Towns work to ban bags

COCKATOO and Lang Lang are bidding to become plastic bagfree.
Residents of the towns have joined forces with state and local government to help make the shopping area “fantastic without plastic”.
Local MPs Tammy Lobato and Geoff Hilton announced last week that Cardinia Shire Council would receive a grant of $1000 and campaign resources to promote reducing plastic in both towns.
“This includes providing reusable bags, stickers, posters, badges, magnets and information to go to residents and retailers and promoting alternatives to plastic bag use,” Ms Lobato said.
The township committees of Cockatoo and Lang Lang will work closely with local retailers, supported by the council and the South Eastern Regional Waste Management Group.
Cr Doug Hamilton, who chairs the waste management group, said he hoped residents would respond to the initiative with enthusiasm.
Ms Lobato said plastic bags could last for hundreds of years in the natural environment, harming animals and creating litter and waste that ended up in landfill.
Ms Lobato urged shoppers to do their bit to bag plastic bags in Cockatoo.