Move to reduce plastic bags

A local retail centre will take part in the month-long "Kick the Habit" campaign, to help reduce plastic bag use.

Deepwater Plaza, Woy Woy, will take part in the event, along with Erina Fair and the Gosford Imperial Centre.

As part of the campaign, random shoppers spotted carrying reusable bags will be rewarded with tickets in a prize draw for shopping vouchers totalling $1500 from the three centres.

The prizes will be drawn at the end of the campaign on November 30.

Community displays at the shopping centres during the campaign will include plastic bag swaps, giveaways for shoppers pledging to reduce their plastic bag use, and activity areas and giveaways for children.

Launching the campaign, Gosford mayor Cr Laurie Maher said: "Presently, if only two per cent of used plastic bags make their way back into the natural environment, that's 80,000 of them blowing around causing litter problems and damage, injury or death to marine life and animals."

Cr Maher said the backing of retailers, as well as shoppers, was essential to substantially decrease the number of plastic bags in circulation.

Press release, October 30, November 6 Marion Newall, Gosford Council