East coast NSW councils encourage residents to take the Plastic Free July pledge

THOUSANDS of Australians are being encouraged to make one simple change this month by taking the Plastic Free July pledge.

Councils along the east coast of New South Wales are supporting the global campaign, encouraging residents to refuse just one unnecessary plastic item during July and help reduce plastic waste in their communities.

The Plastic Free July pledge invites individuals, families, schools, workplaces and community groups to choose one plastic item to avoid, whether it is single-use coffee cups, plastic shopping bags, drink bottles or heavily packaged produce.

A Dungog Shire Council spokesperson said on Facebook, “This July, we’re encouraging everyone across the Dungog Shire to choose just one single-use plastic item to avoid.

“It could be a disposable coffee cup, plastic shopping bag, water bottle or food wrap.

“Together, millions of people around the world are taking part in Plastic Free July, proving that small everyday actions really do add up.”

More than 4,400 people have already signed the Plastic Free July pledge, demonstrating how small individual actions can contribute to reducing plastic pollution.

While many people focus on items such as shopping bags and takeaway containers, campaign organisers are also drawing attention to less obvious plastics, including cigarette filters, which are made from cellulose acetate, a form of plastic that can persist in the environment for years.

Discarded cigarette butts remain one of the most commonly littered items worldwide, breaking down into microplastics and releasing harmful chemicals into waterways and natural environments.

Plastic Free July organisers say every item refused helps reduce waste and encourages longer-term changes in consumer habits.

The campaign aims to show that choosing to refuse just one plastic item each day can collectively make a significant difference towards a cleaner environment and a plastic-free future.