Plastic Free July is a worldwide campaign encouraging people to stop using plastic and the Gaia Farmers Markets will be in on the action. 

The market has always offered boomerang bags rather than plastic bags, which are canvas bags people can borrow and bring back each week.

In July they will take their dedication to the plastic free cause a step further. 

Throughout the month they are asking stallholders to go completely plastic free. Market goers will be asked to bring their own cups for coffee or grab one of the mugs provided rather than a takeaway cup and to bring their own water bottle. There will be water stations for people to refill.

On July 14 they will hold a community afternoon tea to raise awareness about how plastic is harming the environment. 

Yummy goodies will be on offer as well as boomerang bag making kits, basket weaving and a wind turbine and solar display.

There will also be plenty of energy efficient goodies to giveaway. 

People can bring a plate of food to enjoy with a tent movie, and learn about what plastic is really doing to our environment. 

The farmers market committee members are also encouraging local businesses to try and go plastic free on July 14. 

Market coordinator, Simi Chee said there had never been bins at the market to encourage people to control their waste.

“At the beginning, we decided we wanted to reduce the waste the market produced,” Simi said.

“When there are no bins, consumers become more aware,” she said.

Council is also behind the farmers market and their plastic free July project with resource recovery projects coordinator, Fiona Schreurs saying “litter is a huge problem, plastics in particular”.

“It’s a nice initiative to get behind.”