Responsible Cafes in the Hawkesbury, Council gets on board

Council has partnered with the Hawkesbury Environmental Network (HEN) to promote the Responsible Cafes initiative, which encourages cafes to sell reusable cups at discounted rates, and also offer discounts on hot drinks for customers who bring a reusable cup.

HEN volunteers have reportedly visited seventy cafes in the Hawkesbury to spread the word, and have had cafes sign-up in Windsor, Richmond, North Richmond, Kurmond, Kurrajong and Glossodia.

Some of these include Windsor’s Lime and Coconut Cafe and George St Loft; Richmond’s Michel’s Patisserie, Richmond Records Cafe, The Rail Cafe and McDonald's; and Kravings Coffee Shop from Kurmond.

Hawkesbury Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett said disposable cup waste is a great concern, and community members can help by asking their local cafe to sign up.

“I met several cafe owners recently who have signed up and I’m delighted that they want to get involved,” the Mayor said.

“Council and HEN want to tackle the problem of disposable cups in the Hawkesbury with the support of local cafes and the Hawkesbury community.

“I know that, together, we can keep the Hawkesbury sustainable.”

Council said over three billion takeaway cups are used in Australia every year, almost none of which are recycled.

Disposable cups and lids can take thousands of years to break down in the environment, contributing to land and marine pollution and threatening wildlife.

This represents a major waste problem, with a significant carbon, water, paper, petroleum and chemical footprint. A great majority of disposable cups and lids end up in landfill or littered in the environment.

Council will be providing a limited number of free reusable cups from its tent at the Hawkesbury Show on 20 to 22 April at the Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon. Recipients will need to sign a pledge to use the reusable cup when buying takeaway hot drinks.

Cafe owners can find out more about the initiative at responsiblecafes.org or by calling Council’s waste education officer on 4560 4566.