Enthusiastic business owners from Bodalla to Narooma are lending cups to customers as part of a scheme to reduce landfill and address driver fatigue.
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The initiative has customers borrowing specially marked mugs from their favourite cafes and getting cheaper tea or coffee for doing so.
The scheme was introduced to Narooma by Half Moon Yoga's Charms Baltis, who wanted to eliminate single-use coffee cups from the town.
With eight cafes in the south of the shire participating, Ms Baltis was looking for ways to expand the program and Eurobodalla Shire Council's road safety officer Kate McDougall jumped at the opportunity to contribute.
"Council has provided reusable cups made from a 50/50 blend of rice-husk fibre and food-grade polypropylene," Ms Baltis said.
"Australians use around three billion single-use coffee cups each year, which end up in landfill or our waterways and oceans.
Australians use around three billion single-use coffee cups each year, which end up in landfill or our waterways and oceans.
- Charms Baltis
"So were giving each of the cafes 25 of the environmentally friendly cups to loan out.
"There are already a lot of people in Eurobodalla using keep cups for their daily brew.
"I see the borrow cups as a way to take sustainable use to a new audience."
Ms McDougall said participating businesses should see an increase in trade, with visitors more likely to stop for a break and a cuppa.
"That helps combat driver fatigue - one of the three big killers on NSW roads," she said.
All borrow cups are branded with a road safety message "Don't Trust Your Tired Self" and a borrow cup sticker.
"We're keen to see the scheme grow across the shire," Ms McDougall said.
"It's a win for businesses, travellers and our planet. Council is proud to offer its support, and we've got plenty more cups on offer."
Cafes currently offering borrow cups include Bound to Earth, Narooma Ice Creamery Cafe, The View, Montague Coffee, Casey's Cafe, Raven Cafe and Grill, Blue Earth, and the Surf Club Cafe.
For more information visit https://halfmoonyoga.studio/initiatives or contact Council's road safety officer Kate McDougall on 4474 1353 or email kate.mcdougall@esc.nsw.gov.au.
