The six month trial commenced in October and Council is providing support to businesses to reduce and replace single-use plastic items with reusable or compostable alternatives.

Several businesses are now working to remove key problem items, such as disposable coffee cups, lids and cutlery. Three businesses are also part of Returnr — a service that replaces single use takeaway packaging with reusable solutions. Customers simply request food in a Returnr bowl or cup, pay a small deposit with the cost of their meal, rinse and return to any cafe in the network to have their deposit refunded.

One business is also planning to dispose of its food waste and compostable packaging at a commercial composting facility. Although Glen Eira residents can’t put compostable and biodegradable products in their kerbside green bins, Glen Eira businesses which use a commercial composting facility can reduce waste going to landfill by composting their food waste and compostable cups, cutlery and packaging.

Glen Eira Mayor Cr Margaret Esakoff said the Boomerang Alliance has been engaged to give businesses the expert support they need throughout the trial.

“The six-month trial will help us understand how we can best support businesses in Glen Eira go plastic free,” Cr Esakoff said.

“Change isn’t always easy, but if we work together we can achieve a sustainable future.”