Free Community Workshops for Plastic Free July

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River invites the community to take part in a number of free workshops to learn tips and tricks to reduce waste, as part of Plastic Free July.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution by setting the challenge to refuse single use plastics for one month. The Shire of Augusta Margaret River’s workshops on Face Food, Stitching with Scraps Sewing with Sheets and Food Rescue provide a fun way for people to get involved at a local level and are run by local sustainability ambassador Nirala Hunt.  

The Face Food Workshop will showcase ways to use natural ingredients to make your own skincare products to reduce the amount of single-use bottles, tubs and tubes and will be held on Saturday 10 July 2021 from 10am to 12pm at the Margaret River HEART.

The Stitching with Scraps, Sewing with Sheets workshop will show how to use old fabric, which typically makes up a large portion of landfill waste, as a craft resource. Participants must be over ten years old and will need to bring their own needles and scissors to create their own hand sewn piece. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 14 July 2021 from 5pm to 7pm at Duggan Pavilion in Cowaramup.

Finally, the Food Rescue Workshop will show how to cut down on waste and packaging to create tasty and economical meals and snacks using seasonal produce. Those who take part in this event on Saturday 31 July from 10am to 12pm at the Margaret River HEART will also discover quick and easy tips and recipes that will save on time spent in the kitchen.

Interim Project Administration and Education Officer Penny Dowd said Plastic Free July was a great chance to have a conversation about the differences we can all make, no matter how big or small.

“The workshops provide a creative way to get involved in reducing single-use plastics in a fun and friendly environment with like-minded people,” she said. “I encourage community members to book a place at one of the workshops and to ‘choose to refuse’ one or more single-use plastics for the month of July.”

“Individual efforts to reduce waste make a huge difference,” she said.

“Some people choose to go completely free of single-use plastics for the month, while others choose to refuse one or more of the top four single-use plastics which are plastic bags, water bottles, takeaway coffee cups and plastic straws.”

“I encourage everyone to get involved in a way that works for them, so that we can reduce the impact of single-use plastic locally and continue to enjoy the pristine environment in which we live.”

The Shire's free Plastic Free July Workshops are now open for bookings via email to [email protected] or for enquiries please call Interim Project Administration and Education Officer Penny Dowd on 08 9780 5269. To find out more visit The Best We've Ever Bin Facebook page or www.amrshire.wa.gov.au/wasteservices. For further information about Plastic Free July see www.plasticfreejuly.org. 

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Image: Interim Project Administration and Education Officer Penny Dowd (left) and sustainability ambassador Nirala Hunt (right) encourage locals to attend upcoming free workshops for Plastic Free July. High resolution image available here.