Ban the Bag campaigners, in their push against single-use plastic bags, have met with the Port Macquarie MP.
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Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said she wanted to meet Maria Doherty and Linda Perkins in person and applaud them.
“I take my hat off to them,” Mrs Williams said.
Protecting the environment is central to the Ban the Bag – Reuse the Bag Port Macquarie campaign.
Mrs Williams said Port Macquarie was such a pristine environment and a lot of the tourism was based around the natural environment.
Australians use about 4.6 billion single-use plastic bags a year.
Ms Doherty said it was great to get the support from Mrs Williams and talk to someone who was enlightened about the environment and took it seriously.
“We take on board her support and advice,” Ms Doherty said.
The campaign’s next step will be to contact councils and community groups across the state with a view to present a combined voice to government.
Campaigners presented a petition with 3500 signatures to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on July 19.
They called on the council to ban single-use plastic bags in the area.
The council will incorporate content on the reduction of single-use plastic bags into its waste education program.
The council will also write to the Port Macquarie and Oxley MPs requesting the state government’s stance on the future use of single-use plastic bags in NSW.
A councillor briefing will address use reduction options, new recycling technology and community education programs.
NSW councils don’t have a statutory power to implement a local ban on plastic bags.
The container deposit scheme is the state government’s anti-litter focus.