Every year, more than 430 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally, yet only around 9% of it is successfully recycled. The remainder accumulates in landfills, litters natural landscapes, and chokes marine and terrestrial ecosystems, posing long-term threats to wildlife and human health. But in the face of this growing plastic pollution crisis, communities are increasingly looking for ways to reverse the situation.
What began as a localised initiative in Australia has evolved into Plastic Free July, becoming a global movement with more than 170 million participants in over 190 countries. The campaign encourages individuals, businesses, and local governments to adopt simple behavioural changes that collectively drive down single-use plastic waste and foster a culture of sustainability.
Recognising the global challenge: Member councils stepping up
Across Australia, our member councils are taking action to address the plastic crisis. By moving past passive awareness and rolling out hands-on, community-driven initiatives, these councils are empowering residents and businesses to rethink their consumption and embrace practical, reusable alternatives.
Here is a look at how some of our member councils participated in this year’s Plastic Free July campaign:
Blacktown City Council: Hands-on sustainable living
Blacktown City Council brought sustainability directly into the hands of its residents by hosting a specialised plastic-free living and beeswax wrap-making workshop. The session focused on identifying everyday plastic items and swapping them out for natural, recyclable alternatives. To ensure participants left with actionable skills, the workshop featured a live, practical demonstration on crafting safe, beeswax-infused food wraps to replace single-use plastic wraps at home.
Manningham City Council: Pop-ups, quizzes, and documentaries
Manningham City Council took an active, face-to-face approach by deploying its waste management team to pop-up stalls at local markets and shopping centres. Engaging directly with the public, the team shared waste-reduction tips and hosted an interactive ‘Plastic-Free July Quiz’ complete with prizes to incentivise sustainable living. To deepen the community’s environmental awareness, the council also hosted a special public screening of a David Attenborough documentary, inspiring viewers to reflect on the impact of single-use plastics.
Yarra City Council: Fostering a shared reusables economy
Focusing heavily on circular economy principles, Yarra City Council provided robust tools and guides for residents, workers, and local business owners. The initiative encouraged the community to consciously reduce waste by repairing, sharing, and repurposing items they already own, highlighted by the creation of a community-driven ‘Reusables Library.’
City of Sydney: Digital education and webinars
Recognising the power of accessible education, the City of Sydney hosted a series of free lunchtime webinars throughout July. These virtual sessions were designed to help residents sharpen their recycling knowledge, understand the broader scope of plastic waste, and discover realistic alternatives to single-use plastics that fit into a busy lifestyle.
City of Onkaparinga: Gamifying sustainability
The City of Onkaparinga introduced a fun, gamified approach to the month by launching its Plastic Free July – Soft Plastics Bingo Challenge. By turning everyday sustainable choices into a bingo card format, the council inspired residents to adopt small, manageable habits that collectively add up to significant plastic reductions.
City of Newcastle: Practical sewing and crafting workshops
The City of Newcastle focused on equipping residents with tangible items to replace disposable goods. They organised practical, skill-building workshops, including sewing classes for cloth nappies and reusable produce bags, equipping community members with skills to opt out of single-use plastics permanently.
Moving forward together
The collective efforts of these member councils highlight how the global plastic pollution crisis requires meaningful solutions at the local level. By supporting communities with education, creative workshops, and engaging incentives, these cities are proving that small behavioural shifts can create a lasting ripple effect. Supporting these local initiatives is a vital step towards protecting our environment and building a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come.