By Georgia FreeTuesday 20 Sep 2022Hope DriveLifeReading Time: 2 minutes
Going to the zoo is a fun day out for the family, but it can also be an incredible opportunity to learn about conservation and what we can do to care for our wildlife.
Belinda Fairbrother, Manager of Guest Learning and Community Impact at the Taronga Zoo Conservation Society, joined Hope Drive for Sustainability Month to discuss Taronga’s conservation efforts, including how they plan to become industry leaders in single use plastics.
NSW is preparing to implement Phase Two of the single-use plastic ban at the end of 2022, where single-use products such as plastic takeaway coffee cups and lids, produce bags, polystyrene packages and microbeads will be banned.
With upwards of two million visitors per year, before the pandemic, Taronga is using their influence to help individuals and businesses adapt to the change.
With upwards of two million visitors per year, before the pandemic, Taronga is using their influence to help individuals and businesses adapt to the change.
On the Taronga Conservation Society website, there are free tool kits for individuals and small businesses to make small changes in order to decrease plastic pollution.
“Some of these items touch your hands for literally seconds, in some cases, but they end up in our oceans for a lifetime,” Belinda said.
“It might feel a little challenging when some of these things get banned, but if you think about the fact that one piece of plastic could impact a turtle’s life, then you can think about how you can help.
“We want to be a header by helping people through this change.”
Listen to Belinda’s full interview on Hope Drive in the player above.
Images supplied by Taronga Zoo