Byron Council says it’s time for residents in the Byron Shire to step up and join Council and some amazing businesses in Mullumbimby to say no to single-use coffee cups in July.

Some of Mullumbimby’s much-loved businesses are partnering with Council and local business, Good Reusables, to do their bit to eliminate single-use packaging, specifically takeaway coffee cups.

When people go to grab their daily cuppa at their favourite haunt in Mullum and they’ve forgotten their reusable cup, they can pay a small deposit to borrow a ‘good’ cup, which is refunded when it is returned.

Statistics from Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water found that Australians use 1.8 billion single-use, hot beverage cups each year, that’s almost 500,000 cups that are sent to landfill each day.

Sarah Child, Council’s Resource Recovery Strategy and Engagement Officer, said awareness about reuse is gaining momentum, especially in the Byron Shire.

“We have been working really hard with event organisers and the markets in the Shire to stop single-use packaging, and each week they are currently removing an average of 6,000 items a week from going to landfill,” Ms Child said.

“People think that take-away coffee cups are recyclable or compostable, and therefore there’s no harm in using them.

“But the reality is they are not able to be recycled in any way, and they go straight into landfill. 

“It’s much easier for people to take their own cup or borrow,” Ms Child said.

Cafes in Mullumbimby taking part in Reuse July include:

• The Other Joint
• Bimbi
• Ya’man
• Santos Organics
• The Paddock
• Heaps Good
• Lulus

“I am hoping people will get behind these great businesses and acknowledge their efforts to reduce the use of single-use cups.,” Ms Child said.

“I would love to see the number of take-way coffee cups used in Mullum plummet in July, so I am inviting everyone to join the challenge,” she said.

Businesses wanting to take part in Reuse July should email Anika Brown at anbrown@byron.nsw.gov.au.