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About the Author

Alex is the Projects and Events Coordinator for CAFNEC. When she is not whispering to the mangroves she spends her time rollerskating or taking her drone to the beach or up mountains.

Volunteers from all age groups got creative on the streets of Cairns and left their messages to stop plastic pollution.

Long-term CAFNEC supporter Lou Gorden showing us her sewing skills.

Drain Stencil Project tought the community that our neighbourhoods are connected to the ocean via the urban stormwater drain system. We brought the community together to spray paint the message “Drains to the Reef” next to our waterways and created informed advocates for our waters, and left a physical, long-lasting message behind for the entire community.

Traveling to schools to engage students in waterway and reef health through art resulted in kids becoming environmental stewards who think about their plastic intake and disposal.

Boomerang Bags was a community-driven initiative tackling plastic pollution at the grassroots level where volunteers got together to make re-useable bags out of recycled material.

Through Boomerang Bags we intercepted materials that would otherwise go to landfill, facilitate conversations, and worked towards shifting society’s throwaway mentality to a more sustainable revolution of reuse – one needle and thread at a time.

We want to celebrate those who dedicated their times to these projects. Thank you for your time and resources to create street art and beautiful bags that can be shared with the Cairns community.

Drain Stencil Project has been handed over to Small World Journeys. Contact Laurie at laurie@nullsmallworldjourneys.com.au if you are interested in this project and would like to participate.

The post Boomerang Bags and Drain Stencil Project Come to a Close appeared first on CAFNEC.

This month we’re shaking up Cairns Green Drinks into a Plastic Free July special event not to be missed!

We’ll be running the usual Green Drinks agenda (free yummy food, drinks by donation, tunes and interesting folk) but with an added Plastic Free July flair:
– Plastic Free made food
– Demonstration of how you can run events plastic free
– Find out how you can join our Plastic Free network and keep the momentum going!

What is Green Drinks?
Cairns Green Drinks is an informal, monthly social event for people who care about conservation, sustainability and all things environment ran at the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC). Hosted on the last Friday of every month the idea is for anyone interested to come along, relax and enjoy some good company. The aim of Cairns Green Drinks is to encourage networking, creativity and thought on environmental issues and projects. Green Drinks are agenda-free, non-politically aligned and everyone is welcome.

Free yummy nibbles are provided and drinks are available by donation.

Friday 27th July
5.30 pm – 7.00 pm
At CAFNEC 27-29 Greenslopes St, North Cairns.

Check out the FB Event : https://www.facebook.com/events/219764722168339/

We hope to see you there 🙂

The post Plastic Free July Green Drinks Special appeared first on CAFNEC.

This year CAFNEC is holding a Plastic Free Evening to bring to you a night of workshops, discussion and support for your plastic free journey.

Plastic Free July went off with a bang the last two years as scores of Far North Queenslanders pledged to break old habits by choosing to refuse single-use plastic, and we are doing it again.

The evening will be divided into three hours.
1. Our first Workshop we will be introducing Carmel from No Waste, No Worries. Carmel is a Cairns local who has transitioned to a plastic free life. Carmel has a wealth of knowledge to share and will give you an insight into her journey and tips and tricks on what you can do.
2. The second workshop we will be taking out our beeswax, ironing boards and graters, and get hands-on making Beeswax Wraps with you. You will each get to take your own beeswax wrap home with you!
3. The last part our evening is designed to bring us all together to share stories, discuss ways we can continue to reduce our plastic consumption, and how we can keep fighting against the problem. Bring along any plastic dilemmas you have and as a group we can share solutions!

Plastic Free food, tea and coffee will be provided throughout the evening.
Thanks to the support and generosity of The Source Bulk Foods for providing delicious snacks.

FREE event, places are limited! Head to Eventbrite to register your name.

We look forward to seeing you for this wonderful evening planned!

An event supported by:
Cairns Regional Council
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
The Source Bulk Foods
Cafnec Marine Response Team
ECOevents Cairns
Plastic Free FNQ
No Waste, No Worries
Plastic Free July

The post A Plastic-Free Evening: Workshops, Discussion & Support appeared first on CAFNEC.

Do you own a single-use plastic free business? Can you think of a business that you frequent that should be on the list?

Fill out the form below and let us know – we will add it to the list!

We can to list businesses that either:
a) don’t have any single-use plastic,
b) have ditched some single-use plastic Eg. bags, or,
c) stock mostly package free products.

Let’s expand this directory together to make it easy for others in Cairns to go plastic free!

	Community Foods Cairns
What they sell	‘We stock a range of organic, biodynamic, & health foods. We can provide any quantity, including unopened bags in bulk for cheaper prices. We support local suppliers.’
How they’re plastic free	No waste shop – everything in bulk with paper bags available or BYO containers
Address	74 Shields St, Cairns. Queensland
Phone	07 4041 5335
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/communityfoodscairns/
Instagram	@communityfoodscairns
Website	http://www.comfoods.org.au/
Email	shop@nullcomfoods.org.au
	Enviromart Australia
What they sell	‘Enviromart Australia offers a wide variety of eco friendly organic and ecologically sustainable alternatives to help you reduce your carbon footprint and step a little lighter on the earth.’
How they’re plastic free	No plastic bags, environmentally conscious product line
Address	Corner James and McLeod Streets, Cairns North, Queensland, 4870
Phone	07 4041 2233
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/EnviromartAustralia/
Website	http://www.enviromart.com.au/
Email	info@nullenviromart.com.au
	The Healthy Hub
What they sell	Bulk food, organic, biodynamic supermarket options
How they’re plastic free	No plastic bags, some bulk food options
Address	45 Moffat St, Cairns North QLD 4870
Phone	(07) 4051 5688
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/The-Healthy-Hub-137855079625538/
Website	www.thehealthyhub.com.au
Email	info@nullthehealthyhub.com.au
	Real Food Network
What they sell	Fresh, local produce (lots of organic and spray free options)
How they’re plastic free	They do provide plastic bags, however it is easy to take your own bag and buy produce plastic free
Address	Rusty’s Markets, Cairns, Queensland 4870
Phone	0414 608 234
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/realfoodnetwork/
Website	http://realfoodnetwork.com.au/
Email	chris@nullrealfoodnetwork.com.au
	Rusty’s Markets
What they sell	Fresh produce markets
How they’re plastic free	They’re not (most vendors provide plastic bags) however it is easy to take your own bag and buy produce plastic free
Address	57-89 Grafton Street, Cairns
Phone	07 4031 5698
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/Rustysmarkets/
Instagram	@RustysMarkets
Website	http://www.rustysmarkets.com.au/
Email	rustysmarkets@nullgilligans.com.au
	The Source Bulk Foods Cairns
What they sell	‘..bulk wholefoods, health foods and a huge range of paleo, gluten free, organic & vegan products’
How they’re plastic free	No waste shop – everything in bulk with paper bags available or BYO containers
Address	10/85 Lake St Cairns, Queensland
Phone	07 4031 5698
Facebook	www.facebook.com/thesourcebulkfoodscairns
Instagram	@thesourcecairns
Website	http://thesourcebulkfoods.com.au/
Email	cairns@nullthesourcebulkfoods.com.au
	Cairns Hillslopes Hunny
What they sell	They sell products from their own hives : hunny, honeycomb and beeswax
How they’re plastic free	The beekeeper Roy sells his honey in recycled glass bottles. He provides too only paper bags for packaging.
Address	Local markets: Holloways Beach markets and Tanks market
Phone	419644852
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/Cairns-Hillslopes-Hunny-1686931901580889/
Email	cairnshillslopeshunny@nulloutlook.com

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Plastic in the ocean is estimated to outweigh fish by 2050.

Get your friends and family to sponsor you to go plastic free this July. Raise awareness, create change in your circle of influence and help raise money for the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre.

Say NO to all single-use plastic items, just the Top 4 (straws, plastic bottles, plastic bags, coffee cups) or make your own custom pledge (eg. plastic-free workplace, classroom, or travel). 

Sign up for a day, a week, or the whole month. Take an individual challenge, or galvanise your friends, colleagues, or students and sign up as a team!

Maybe you will even be inspired to turn your plastic-free challenge into a life-long habit.

Click here to sign up

Plastic Free July went off with a bang last year as scores of Far North Queenslanders pledged to break old habits by choosing to refuse single-use plastic.

So come and join us! Pick your challenge, get your friends and family to sponsor you, and stand up for a waste-free future.

Sign up today!

What you’re supporting: 

In the past year, CAFNEC has hosted over 25 plastic reducing awareness and education events in Far North Queensland including the Cairns Drain Stencil Project, Boomerang Bags Cairns, film screenings, workshops on plastic-free living, a family fun day and events for Plastic Free July in 2016. They have campaigned for the State of Queensland to ban single-use plastic bags and introduce a container deposit scheme. CAFNEC works collaboratively with local communities, schools, businesses, and other organisations that assist toward greener, healthier, and more equitable communities and environments.

  Join the Facebook event

Check out our video from 2016:

Check out our video from 2016:

The post Plastic Free July 2017 appeared first on CAFNEC.

The Queensland Government has committed to banning single-use plastic bags in 2018 – hoorah! They have released a discussion paper and are seeking public input via an online survey into what a ban may look like in practice. The CAFNEC Marine Response Team have put together some points which may help you guide your response. The survey closes on Monday 27th March so have your say now!

Click here to start the Qld Government survey on banning light weight plastic bags now.

Q1. Do you think that 1 July 2018 allows enough time for consumers and retailers to transition to plastic bag alternatives?

• Yes, people will adapt quickly to bringing their own bags.
• It has shown to be successful in many other states and countries.
• An education program for both consumers and retailers should be introduced prior to the ban date to educate on the problem of single-use plastic and the benefits of, and best alternatives to use.
• Important it is introduced at an appropriate time for retailers, i.e. not at Easter or Christmas.

Q2. Do you agree that biodegradable bags should be included?

• Yes
• Taking away all plastic bags will help people to transition.
• Degradable bags are designed to break into smaller pieces and resemble food for wildlife even more that standard bags.
• Biodegradable bags contain toxic agents to slow down decomposition taking up to two years to fully decompose. Throughout this time they are in the environment doing damage.
• People are more likely to litter biodegradable bags thinking that they are ok for the environment.

Q3. Do you support the Queensland Government working with other states and territories to encourage industry to reduce the number of heavier weight plastic department store bags?

• Include heavier plastic bags in the policy now. Voluntary action to reduce will include education coupled with either a ban/alternative product or a levy on bags anyway.
• Alternatives to thicker bags, such as consumers just using their own bags or recycled paper bags, must be encouraged.
• Heavy duty plastic bags take even longer to break down in the environment than normal ones

Q4. What else can be done by the Queensland Government to address plastic pollution?

• Stop mass release of helium balloons in Queensland. Once released they end up in the ocean and become a serious threat to wildlife.
• Find alternative to single use bait bags for fishing
• Plastic items such as polystyrene cups and plates, plastic straws, plastic food ware, and other plastic packaging and food trays should be added to a list of problematic plastics for future policy and education campaigns. Ideally, a future ban like in France should take place.
• Microplastics (fibres, film, pellets and beads) also need to be managed – either through bans, take back schemes, filtration systems or simply using alternative, non-disposable, or organic items
• Action needs to be taken towards disposal of cigarette butts which are plastic fibres and usually contaminated with chemicals.
• Provide incentives for outlets to use compostable crockery such as the brand BioPak, as alternatives to plastic
• Put in place more bottle refilling stations to encourage people to bring their own bottle and not buy bottled a water
• Provide better education around recycling, especially in schools
• Provide more bins in public places, with a recycling bin alongside each one
• Include tip fees in house rates to reduce illegal dumping
• More monitoring and strict prosecution of people who dump illegally
• Advertise and encourage more clean-ups, more often
• Re-introduce littering advertisements on television
• Put filters on washing machines to prevent synthetic remnants from entering the drain system
• Collect and monitor rubbish at tributaries, particularly after the first flood of the season, as is done in Port Douglas, FNQ
• Introduce soft plastics recycling in all cities, not just major ones
• Effective implementation of the Container Deposit Scheme scheduled for 2017
• Provide funding for programs for non-profit groups working on the ground to reduce plastic in the environment Eg. Boomerang Bags, Tangaroa Blue and other community initiatives such as the Drain Stencil Project that spread the message about litter polluting the Great Barrier Reef

Click here to complete the Qld Government survey now

The post Response Guide: Qld Gov Survey on plastic bag ban appeared first on CAFNEC.

Read Oliver’s blog now

The post The Plastic Puzzle: Great blog by primary student! appeared first on CAFNEC.

Toilet paper:

Who Gives a Crap sell plastic free toilet paper that is delivered to you door. The paper is 100% recyclable and half of their profits are donated to water aid.

Beauty Products:

Ethique are a New Zealand based company that make plastic free solid beauty products available for purchase online.

Lush sell shampoos, deodorants, bath bombs and soap all plastic free. While they do have some products that come in recycled plastic 46% of their product line is plastic free.

Sanitary products:

Moon cup sell silicone menstrual cups meaning you will never have to buy tampons again

Luna also sell silicone menstrual cups, and also material, washable and reusable sanitary pads

The post Plastic Free Bathroom & Sanitary Products appeared first on CAFNEC.

Hey there!

It’s been two weeks since I pledged to refuse the top 4 single-use plastic i.e. plastic bags, straws, coffee cups, and plastic bottles. It’s been pretty good so far. I made it a habit of carrying a keep cup, a bottle, and an extra food container whenever I go out. So here’s my plastic-free July journey so far:

In my first plastic free July week I went to a drive-in cinema in Mareeba and requested my milkshake to be put in my own bottle. My friend stepped back when I ordered, but I got my plastic free chocolate milkshake! Feeling more confident, I tried to order more plastic-free food and beverage that night, I rinsed my bottle with water and ordered a large hot chocolate with marshmallow + a box fries, walked back to the car only to find the ketchup was packaged in plastic! Nooo!

I sent this article to my dad back home. He was pretty excited. Hopefully I can get my family on board to go plastic-free.

Last night I was craving for some food from home and brought my own food container to a Malaysian Restaurant. I ended up buying too much food and had to take one of their food containers home.

In my second week, I tried to cook or dine-in as much as possible, to avoid plastic containers, I have been doing pretty well. I even used my keep cup to get a huge scoop of ice cream on the way back from Fitzroy Island. But yesterday, I went to a sushi restaurant and ordered some food. After a while, a friendly waiter came and handed my sushi rolls in a food container, inside a plastic bag! I asked them whether I can have the sushi on a plate. I felt upset because I know that they will probably throw away the plastic container and the bag.

No cones? You can use your keep cup as an alternative to single-use plastic

Plastic has a huge presence in our daily life. It took me a while to change my mindset and consumption behavior, and the experience has been quite challenging. It’s even tougher to change other people’s behavior and view towards plastic. However through this experience, I learned that communication is an important key. You can make a difference by talking to your friends, family, the cashier, your local grocer, and to other awesome people who’s going plastic free to share your challenges and get useful plastic-free tips.

If you are interested in joining us and learn more about the cause, come to our weekly workshop. It’s never too late to live a plastic-free life.

Cheers,
Amalia

The post My Plastic-Free July: Amalia’s Story appeared first on CAFNEC.