An Ex-Strawdinary Initiative Bronte

“Do I really need a straw?”

Cafes and restaurants are increasingly becoming aware of environmental issues and making changes to be part of the solution.The first priority for Plastic Free Bronte is to tackle one of the easiest items we can all do without : The Plastic Straw!

THE THING ABOUT STRAWS

• Plastic straws are one of the top polluters on our beaches

• Plastic straws are too small to be recycled

• Oil based production and a short life cycle = a single serving of pollution

• Plastic straws pose a threat to our marine life

• The thing is, we really don’t need straws - we can sip, not suck

OUR IDEA IS SIMPLE

Plastic Free Bronte would like every cafe on Bronte Beach (Bronte Surf Club Kiosk are already on board with us) to stop offering plastic straws to customers.

If every cafe decides to switch to paper straws (but only for customers who request a straw) we can really make a difference and pave the way in our neighbourhood for others to follow.

We are starting each cafe off by gifting you a box of paper straws. The straws we have chosen are Aardvark paper straws, made in the USA from renewable resources, biodegradable and 100% compostable.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR BUSINESSES THAT MAKE THE CHANGE:

• Do away with all plastic straws and switch over to recyclable paper straws.

• Keep your paper straws behind your counter and only offer straws on request for sit down customers.

• Don’t offer straws for take-away customers. Briefly explain the direct link to polluting our beach.

• You will find that once you explain the direct link with single-use straws to our ocean environment then 99% of people will understand.

Behavioural changes for people can take time. So many of us are conditioned into thinking we need a straw with our drinks. But once the question has been asked “Do I really need a straw?” people WILL start to think about saying no to straws!

Join our initiative and Plastic Free Bronte will do our very best to help support you in any way you might.

WHAT ARE SINGLE-USE PLASTICS?

Single-use plastics are designed to be used just once and then thrown away. The big problem is that THERE IS NO AWAY.

Single-use items are things such as plastic straws, plastic drinking bottles, plastic cutlery, plastic bags, plastic take-away containers. Only a small percentage of these items end up being recycled and the majority ends up in landfill.

WHY WE CARE

It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish!!!

Many single-use plastic items end up directly on Bronte beach, in our parks and indeed much gets blown into our ocean. This causes havoc for our marine life, including sea birds who will often mistake plastic for food. This can lead to a devastating end to life as intestinal tracts become blocked.

In the ocean, plastic will break down into smaller pieces of plastic which then become microplastics. Microplastics are now entering OUR FOOD CHAIN.

Plastic Free Bronte has decided to start off with straws and truly hope that all the cafes along Bronte Beach will form an alliance on this one issue. Tamarama cafe has not been offering plastic straws for years now because owner Alan Lewis believes that the straws are likely to end up on the sand or in the ocean. We are very excited because Bronte Surf Club Kiosk has agreed to take on the Ex-Strawdinary Initiative.

Plastic Free Bronte will also help to promote your businesses through our social media networks as we believe in a big BRAVO shout out to anyone doing their bit!

Congratulations!!! these Cafe's have already signed up to the Ex-Strawdinary initiative

Cafe Salina , High Tides -both down at Bronte beach

Littering Grant

We are currently finalising our application for funding with "keep NSW beautiful' for a littering grant. Anyone interested in joining us to complete a local litter check on Sunday 11th February at 4pm behind the picnic huts close to the gully, we would love to see you.