Boddington - registered/launched October 2004
Boddington nestles on the banks of the Hotham River in a sheep and timber district south-east of Perth. The town was named after Henry Boddington, an early settler whose shepherds often camped near a large natural pool on the Hotham River. This pool has become know as Boddington Pool. The major source of the town’s prosperity is the Worsley Aluminia Project where bauxite ore is mined before being sent to Collie for crushing and processing on the longest conveyor belt in the world. Two goldmines also contribute to the local economy.
The Shire of Boddington registered in October 2004 to support the local grocery shop’s initiative to introduce a $1.00 levy per bag commencing on the 1st October 2004. In the previous months there had been a client preparation campaign and this brought plastic bags into sharp focus in the community.
The Shire wanted Bag Smart to consult with the other retailers, and the school, to look at how they could provide community education to support the initiative taken by the retailer.
Strategies employed:
- Local grocery shop introduces $1.00 levy beginning 1st Oct 2004. The effect has been immediate, with only 56 bags sold in October and only 12 in November 2004. This is a reduction of more than 1200 bags per week, or 60,000 bags on an annual basis.
- Four other retailers have stopped distributing plastic shopping bags
- Local grocery shop, which would normally be the principle distributor of plastic shopping bags, is happy to provide statistics on bag usage
- Local Newsletter “Council Cappers” – first article publish November 2004
- Posters placed at grocery store, Council Chambers and at the Youth Centre
What's planned:
- Bag Smart Education activities through the School
- Community education through the local newsletters and papers
- Looking to get local youth groups involved as another motivation for change in the younger age groups
