Cloth tote bags and reusable mugs: Plastic Reduction Denmark urges community to consume less for month of July

Plastic Reduction Denmark is urging the community to ditch its one-time use practices and adopt sustainable methods for Plastic Free July. Celebrating its eighth year of eco-friendly volunteering, the group continues to expand in numbers and currently sits at around 127 with six core members. Founding member and co-ordinator Karen Andersson formed the idea for a sustainable volunteer group after living in the United Kingdom. “It started eight years ago when we put up a simple A-frame stall at the market, before the plastic bag ban, asking if anybody wanted to reduce their plastic waste,” she said. “And we’ve been busy bees ever since then, making over 6000 reusable tote bags. “I thought, let’s just start with that one thing and that might be a catalyst. “It wasn’t really about the shopping bag, but more about choosing something achievable and attainable.” Backed by businesses in the community, the group has started to see sustainable change around Denmark. An initiative started by the group is to pay a $6 deposit for a cup for use in cafes around town, and when the cup is no longer needed, it can be given back and the $6 deposit is refunded. From knitting bags to straws, the eco-friendly group isn’t short on ideas for community sustainability, and with support from the Shire, they have no plans on stopping anytime soon. “We throw away 2.7 million throw-away cups into landfill in Australia every day,” Ms Andersson said. “Plastic Reduction Denmark is all about doing what is achievable and doable at a local level to fight climate change.”