LOCAL businesses in the Derwent Valley, Central Highlands and Brighton areas are being urged to ban the use of plastic. Award-winning cooking school and restaurant the Agrarian Kitchen is leading the way.

Plastic Free Places Tasmania recently named the Agrarian Kitchen a ‘Plastic Free Champion’ for its dedication to sustainability and reducing its use of single-use plastics. Plastic Free Places is a program to help food businesses in the region move away from single-use plastic.

Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis urged food business owners to take advantage of the program and work with the community and Council to reduce waste and plastic pollution in the Derwent Valley.

The program follows an announcement by the Tasmanian Government of a proposed ban on key single-use plastic items by 2025.

Plastic Free Places Tasmania spokesman Dan Broun said reusable or compostable items were increasingly preferred by customers. “It’s a massive win for the environment and we look forward to assisting small businesses in their transition,’’ Mr Broun said. Plastic Free Places Tasmania is funded to provide free assistance to food retailers, helping make the transition away from single-use plastics as simple as possible.

“We work directly with businesses, looking at what they’re using and showing them what alternatives are available to them,” said Mr Broun. “We can also help them reduce ongoing packaging costs and offer them free promotion”.

To join or for more information, go to http://plasticfreeplacestas.org/join

To date, just 13 businesses have signed on in Tasmania, with the Agrarian Kitchen leading the way.