Burleigh may soon be plastic-free

Julie Abbott with the Eco BYO coffee cup (food grade silicone) at Eco Vida, Burleigh Heads.

John Gass

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BURLEIGH Heads may soon be plastic-free thanks to the new campaign Rise Above Plastics.

The Gold Coast-Tweed branch of the Surfrider Foundation is planning an all-out assault on plastic in a bid to create a plastic-free zone in the James St district.

The campaign centres on refusing, reducing, reusing and recycling plastics.

Gold Coast Tweed Surfrider Foundation president Adam Feichtmann said Rise Above Plastics aims to work with individual businesses in order to help them reduce the plastic they use.

“This is an international campaign and we want Burleigh Heads to be known as a business district that reduces the amount of single-use plastic they use,” Mr Feichtmann said.

“We are applying for grants through the council to hire a consultant to work with businesses and help them figure out how to reduce plastic.

“Once the details have been organised we will have an official contract for each business to sign regarding their part in the campaign.”

Mr Feichtmann said businesses in James St have already been approached about the campaign and so far there has been a positive response.

“Businesses have been extremely receptive to the idea,” Mr Feichtmann said. “We have already approached 100 plus businesses and I would say about 80% were very interested.

“Burleigh Heads is a trial run and if it goes well the campaign will be launched in other Gold Coast areas.”