Greens Councillor Matthew Ryan-Sykes motion for West Coast Council to go plastics free was unanimously opposed at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.
“This is a very disappointing result from a Council that otherwise have shown a real willingness to be involved in strategies for reducing, reusing and recycling waste products.” Cr. Matthew Ryan-Sykes states. “We have a real determination from a range of other Council’s, non-government organisations and private business such as Woolworths and Coles to reduce plastic use in Tasmania.”
Cr. Matthew Ryan-Sykes countered suggestions from other Councillor’s about cost by explaining there were many alternatives that are cheaper to use such as paper cups and plates. Cr. Matthew Ryan-Sykes says, ” I will continue to work consultatively with ratepayers, councillors and community members to reduce waste. This is an issue that the West Coast could take leadership on to save rate payers the cost of clean ups on sides of roads, increasing the size of our landfill and fixing environmental contamination Council contributes to.”
In the meantime, Cr Matthew Ryan-Sykes says he is looking forward to attending the Plastics Free event held by CENTs this Sunday 1st July at 12 noon in the Tullah Community Hall and explore ideas with others in the community about how we all can reduce plastic use to a point where the whole of the West Coast becomes plastic free!
Greens Councillor Matthew Ryan-Sykes
