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City of Wollongong
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Plastic Free Wollongong

Plastic Free July

Choose to refuse single-use plastic this July! Making a small swap adds up to big change. We're encouraging residents to swap a single-use plastic item like bags, cups, straws or takeaway containers and opt for a re-usable item instead.

This Plastic Free July, we've got a spotlight on microplastics. Find out easy ways you can do your bit and reduce microplastics on our Microplastics page.

You can also visit the Plastic Free July website for ideas on ways to reduce your plastic use as an individual, school, or at your workplace.

Ditch single-use plastics and reduce litter in the Illawarra and our oceans.

Single-use plastics you can refuse or replace with more sustainable options include:

  • Plastic bags
  • Straws
  • Bottles
  • Takeaway containers, food packaging and plastic cutlery
  • Coffee cups and lids – even cups that look cardboard usually have plastic lining.
  • Reusable nappies
  • Reusable face masks

Every change helps, whether you want to focus on one item at a time, or make a big effort to get rid of all single-use plastics.

Beyond plastic bags

Now that the major supermarkets have removed single-use plastic bags (yay!) most of us are getting used to reusable shopping bags.

Here are some more easy ways you can keep up the good work and remove plastic bags from other parts of your life:

  • Line your bin with old newspapers, paper bags, empty cereal bags, bread bags or pasta/rice bags.
  • Try composting or worm farming so you need fewer bin liners.
  • Use cloth or mesh bags for fresh produce instead of grabbing plastic ones in-store.
  • Take your own containers to the butcher, deli or fish market. If you forget, ask if they can wrap your items in paper instead of plastic.
  • Try beeswax wraps or reusable containers for your sandwiches instead of plastic bags or wrap.

Boomerang Bags

We have some great community groups who make bags out of recycled materials. The Wollongong and northern Illawarra Boomerang Bags groups are always looking for new volunteers to help make bags.

Get involved by checking out one of these groups:

Marine litter

Litter, especially plastic, can have a huge negative impact on our oceans and the animals who live there. To learn more, see the EPA's Marine Litter Campaign.

Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that have been found in the ocean, in rainfall, and even within our bodies. As plastic breaks down over time, it releases microplastics and harmful chemicals into the air, water, and soil, and is particularly damaging for our oceans.

Some microplastics come from plastic items breaking down, but others can come from everyday activities like washing clothes made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon or acrylic which shed tiny microplastic fibres known as microfibres. Read more about microplastics and easy ways you can reduce your impact on our Microplastics page.

Make your own beeswax wraps

Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to single-use plastic wrap, and they're easy to make, Check out our Beeswax Wraps page for details.

Single-use plastics ban

The NSW Government has banned certain single-use plastics.

Lightweight plastic shopping bags were banned from 1 June 2022, and a number of other single-use plastic items were banned from 1 November 2022. To learn more, visit the Plastics Ban NSW website.

This is part of a larger NSW Government plan to manage plastics and reduce the impact they have on the environment, you can learn more about the NSW Plastics Action Plan here.

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