Katikati takes a stand on plastic

Plastic can be a big problem on beaches around the country.

There's a lot of trash talk going on in Katikati right now.

It has locals voicing concern about the amount of plastic ending up in the streets, the beaches and landfills.

Regional towns as well as metropolitan cities are producing too much discarded plastic and it's going nowhere. That is the hard truth residents in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel have to face, according to a team of concerned locals in Katikati.

Katikati is not alone in having too much plastic littering the environment.

The prediction is that by 2050 the weight of disposed-of water-laden plastic will be greater than the weight of the fish in the sea.

Helena Dawson

Helena Dawson is so concerned she has changed her purchasing habits by eliminating single-use plastic from her shopping list and is seeking signatures on her petition to help rid Katikati of plastic waste.

"Our landfills are not biodegrading. The rubbish from our bins is tipped onto a plastic liner because the seepage is toxic All our recycled plastic is being stockpiled because China is no longer taking the world's rubbish."

Plastic waste is a global problem with academic researchers estimating more than 13,000 pieces of plastic trash wash up every day on Henderson Island, part of the Pitcairn Islands, which is about 10km long and 5km wide. It is just one example of where discarded plastic is ending up.

Plastic waste is also making its way into the local food chain, with fish ingesting tiny plastic particles.

She said one way to reduce waste is not to buy single use plastic packaging, where fresh fruit and vegetables are packed on a foam tray with plastic wrap.

Our oceans and waterways are filling up with plastic and land-based plastic is washing into waterways and out to sea, she said.

"The prediction is that by 2050 the weight of the disposed-of water-laden plastic will be greater than the weight of the fish in the sea."

She believes it is time to make better choices as consumers, starting with saying 'no' to plastic bags.

"Sometimes, we need to make a simple start, so take up the 7-Day Plastic Bag Free challenge."

It is baby steps to reduce dependency on plastic, and other locals are working to the same end — encouraging consumers to modify the way they shop, choose and carry items.
"We are lucky to have the great work of the Boomerang Bag Group — which creates fabric bags to share — and the backing of Katch Katikati," she said.

"These groups are helping all of us to become plastic aware and to offer alterative solutions to plastic carry bags and packaging."

There are signature support forms at Katikati Pharmacy, Waipuna hospice shops, Hammer Hardware, Asian Traders Big Avo and Kaimai Physio.

"Please sign it and say no to plastic and help Katikati become the Bay's first plastic-free town."