A group of Hawkesbury women are on a mission to go plastic free, joining the Boomerang Bag initiative and bringing it to Richmond Good Food Market.
Boomerang Bags is a grassroots, community driven movement tackling plastic pollution at its source.
Volunteers from all walks of life get together to make re-useable ‘boomerang bags’ using recycled materials, as a means to provide a sustainable alternative to plastic bags
After noticing the Boomerang Project on Facebook local Hawkesbury woman Sharon Grech soon learnt there was a nearby group meeting at Springwood, as part of the Blue Mountains Boomerang Bags.
After deciding to start a local group Sharon along with Anne Birchall attended a Springwood sewing bee to gain insight and advice on how to start the Hawkesbury group.
After speaking with Vanessa Hanna of the local Richmond Good Food Market it was determined that they also wanted to go plastic bag free and both groups were keen to tackle plastic pollution.
“The first information day was held at the Richmond Good Food Market recently and the general public response was very encouraging,” Ms Grech said.
“Not only are Boomerang bags made from recycled materials that would have gone to landfill but they are distributed free to shoppers as an alternative to plastic bags.
“We were further encouraged as the generous public also made cash donations which will go towards out of pocket expenses for items like thread, elastic and silk screening inks.”
At the Market the local group are providing a donation area for recycling of household cotton or poly-cotton materials like sheets, pillow cases and doona covers, table cloths, curtaining and even dressmaking remnants.
“We have “sew at home” packs ready along with a small but growing group of volunteers who are diligently sewing at home when they can.
“We are currently running sewing bees at the Hawkesbury Learning and Leisure Centre, and information can be found on Boomerang Bags Hawkesbury Facebook page.”