Boomerang Bags Lennox Head

Boomerang Bags Lennox Head began as a “community unity” project set up by Lennox Head Residents Association to help our beautiful coastal town in northern NSW reduce plastic pollution – and bring people together for a positive cause.

We released our first bags into the community in June 2018 – just before Coles, Woolies and IGA introduced their nationwide plastic bag ban (accidental perfect timing!) – and since then it’s been going from strength to strength.

About 15 regular volunteers come to our fortnightly sewing bees, everyone gets a kick out of seeing the bags around town and it’s been great to see the whole community get behind our Boomerang Bags project.

We make two kinds of bags: “Borrow & Reuse” bags are free, and customers are asked to reuse or return them; and “Bought to Support” bags are sold for $5 with the proceeds helping us to keep going. Any profits are donated to environmental charities such as Lennox Head Community Gardens and Australian Seabird Rescue, based in nearby Ballina, which helps wildlife such as turtles and seabirds injured by plastic pollution on the beaches and in the water.

Where to get our bags: Three small Lennox Head grocery shops stock our bags: Nixon Bulk Foods, Seed & Husk, and Seagrass.

Want to get involved? Everyone is welcome and we’re a friendly bunch. There are a few ways to help:

• Come to one of our fortnightly sewing bees (see below for more info). BYO sewing machine if you want to sew, but there are plenty of other jobs too, from ironing and cutting fabric to helping with the screenprinting.
• Pick up a take-home kit at one of our bees. These have instructions and the bags are pre-cut. A good way to contribute in your time and even make a few Boomerang Bags for your own use.
• Donate fabric (see below). Just make sure the fabric is clean and not stretchy; we love doona covers, curtains, tea towels and anything fairly sturdy.
• Get in touch. Feel free to ask us anything about how we got started, what we do, how to get involved, how to stock the bags in your shop, etc. We’re all about spreading the word about this wonderful initiative.

Where should people donate materials?:

We have two fabric donation boxes: at the Lennox Head library (on Park Lane, in the community centre) and at Seed & Husk health food store, 68 Ballina Street, Lennox Head. No stretchy fabric please; doona covers, tea towels and curtains or clothes are perfect. We also love pre-loved jeans!

Sewing bee details:

Lennox Head CWA Hall, in Mackney Lane behind the community centre, on the first and third Saturday of each month, 2.30pm-5pm.