Firstly from Kate Hook: “If I was going to say one thing that I’ve learned, it is even when you think you are trying and being aware you still use plastic. Also a lot of plastic is brought into your house by others. Something to think about is how to communicate to friends and family that you are a plastic-free household.”

Melanie McDonell, who has been communicating with Orange retailers, said “there has been a significant level of support and involvement from the Orange community in participating in Plastic Free July. Many of us have found it to be a positive opportunity to engage with fellow shoppers as well as business managers to discuss the plastics in our lives and ways of reducing or eliminating them completely. The positive response from the Orange community gives us a perfect chance to continue the momentum”.

Chairman of Orange City Council's Environmental Sustainability Committee Stephen Nugent said “the involvement of council's committee has taken Plastic Free July to another level. ESCC's ‘Walk the Talk on Plastic’ project has created the PFJ Orange Facebook page that is full of ideas on how to avoid plastic and alternatives you can use. It has also seen the involvement of schools and community members in the Plastic Box Challenge, a great initiative. The important thing is that it doesn't finish at the end of July but continues”.

Those taking part in the Plastic Box Challenge can deliver boxes for analysis to Marita Sydes at the Environmental Learning Facility in the Orange Showgrounds, from 9am-3pm from Wednesday to Friday. For those unable to do this, there will be a tool for analysis of your plastic consumption on the PFJ Orange Facebook page during the same time.

Fiona Hawke wraps up: “It’s been another timely reminder of how much plastic there is in our lives today and how hard it is to avoid it.”