welcome to the plastic bag free torquay site.
our plastic bag free torquay campaign began in 2010 after viewing the bbc documentary ‘message in the waves’. one of the main points to resonate with viewers was the quote of a hawaiian waterman. he said that it was his obligation to give back to the ocean: “when you have the privelege of enjoying something, you also have an obligation to take care of it.”
the plastic litter problem of the pacific and particularly hawai’i is not just their problem. it is ours, because we share in contributing to the piles of plastic litter that choke and starve marine life and destroy the natural beauty of the coastline. soon, the litter that is burying the beaches of hawai’i's north shore will be the litter that buries our own.
one of the easiest ways to cut back on our plastic consumption is to ban single use plastic shopping bags. and that is what our campaign hopes to do for our small stretch of coast at the start of the great ocean road.
join our campaign and help create a loud community voice that says no. say no at the supermarket next time you shop, tell your friends to ‘like’ us on facebook, pick up a sticker or postcard from your local cafe, the library, corks crew or favourite surf shop.
keep in touch via this website about how it’s all going, get some facts on plastic bags and alternatives, find out about local events that help promote simpler yet better ways of living and ways to reduce your litter footprint.
the ocean is precious – it is not ours, we borrow it. it enriches our lives in real and intangible ways but it is exhaustible. and to quote that hawaiian guy again – “once it’s gone, you can’t mail order anything else.”
