Boomerang Bags Dungog

Dungog was the 20th Boomerang Bags community to sign up in February 2016 and has lead the way in the Newcastle/Hunter with BB communities underway now in Gloucester, ClarenceTown and Hawks Nest (with boomerang bags supported at all 4 IGA’s in those towns) as well as throughout the Newcastle region. I have a Big Picture ‘education and awareness’ model in mind for the whole community; working closely with Dungog Shire Council, Dungog Districts Chamber Of Commerce, businesses, schools, community groups and households All working together for best practice Reduce, ‘Choose Reusables’ and Recycle waste management.

Over 3000 Boomerang Bags have been made by our Dungog Team and distributed throughout our community so far. We are now making a ‘Bought To Support’ range of boomerang bags, fruit & veg/produce bags, cutlery tote bags and BeeRapt bees wax wraps (from donated fabrics and our bag offcuts) for the community to support. Our ‘Bought To Support’ bags are also available in Paterson, Vacy, and Gresford.

In 2017 Boomerang Bags Dungog was awarded the first ever community grant for innovative waste reduction from Dungog Shire Council and JR Richards.  The Dungog community has overwhelmingly supported Plastic Free July 2017 and the plan to go plastic bag free. As of June 30, 2018 Dungog IGA and it’s 3 other stores in Gloucester, Clarence Town and Hawk’s Nest have stopped using single use plastic bags in their stores. They provide and promote alternatives to plastic in their 4 stores and are a key partnership for Boomerang Bags Dungog.

Dungog Shire Council Waste Management Facility in partnership with Plastic Police Partnerships have installed a baler at the Dungog tip/landfill facility for soft plastics recycling. There are drop off points for our soft plastics at the Dungog Library, Council, IGA and the tip as well as in surrounding towns.

Boomerang Bags Dungog was awarded DDCC, Dungog Districts Chamber of Commerce ‘Golden Axe’ Environment & Sustainability Award 2018 and was a Finalist/Runner up for Excellence in Sustainability at the Hunter Region Business Awards 2018. We announced our new initiative Single-Use Plastic Free Dungog in National Recycling Week, November 2018 and will be underway with it in Plastic Free July, 2019.

Where should people donate materials?:

At our bees.

Sewing bee details:

Dungog CWA Hall, Dowling Street on the 2nd and 4th thursdays of every month.