Plastics Reef toll last straw for Molly
A YOUNG girl on a mission to rid the planet of single-use plastic straws has gained a guarantee from Cairns Regional Council.
The local government has unanimously agreed to take steps to eliminate straws and other single-use plastics from all council operations including offices, markets and other events and venues.
Straw No More campaigner Molly Steer, 10, fronted the council yesterday.
She explained how her journey began last year after she learned about plastic killing animals on the reef.
“It’s true, straws really do suck,” she said.
The 2018 Cairns Young Woman of the Year award recipient said she started small but, with the help of Nicole Nash from The Last Straw on the Great Barrier Reef project, the campaign had snowballed.
“Now more than 90 schools in Australia and overseas have agreed to stop using plastic straws in their school tuckshops,” she said.
Mayor Bob Manning enthusiastically supported the change.
“I think that as the message goes out, more and more people will be inclined to do the right thing,” he said,
“You two girls will make a difference and you will make a change occur.
“Not because you stand over somebody with a stick, but because they learn what the right thing to do is. “That’s the best way.” The council also resolved to investigate supporting local businesses to transition away from single-use plastics.