Plastic waste: Lilo Cafe, Esplanade, Mornington bans bottled water
Scrapping a take away staple seems like a risky move for a beachside cafe fighting to stay afloat during COVID -19. But the owner says the decision was a no-brainer.
South East
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It’s been more than six months since Mark Johnstone banned bottled water at his Mornington cafe.
The decision has cost the co-owner of Lilo Cafe thousands but he doesn’t care.
“I just couldn’t justify it any more,” Mr Johnstone said.
“Now if people want to buy a bottle of water I offer them to fill their drink bottle with filtered water, and if they ask nicely, I’ll pop some ice in it as well.”
Customers without drink bottles are offered a paper cup or glass of water.
The cafe has also continued to allow customers to bring in reusable cups for take away coffee throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“We never stopped doing that. I did all my research at the beginning and there was nothing to say it was unsafe or banned,” Mr Johnstone said.
Lilo Cafe stands out on the Esplanade with its vintage green decor and eclectic collection of green crockery and keep sakes.
And Mr Johnstone is also becoming known for his other green passions.
“I love composting. I have eight compost bins out the back of the cafe,” he said.
“I’m also, perhaps a little controversially, not a fan of recycling.
“I prefer to upcycle and reuse than recycle.”
His latest project involves using almond milk cartons to create trays for customers to carry multiple coffees.
Lilo Cafe is just one Mornington Peninsula business striving to eliminate waste and single use plastic.
Earlier this year 17 Mount Martha venues signed up to a Plastic Free Places program trial, designed to cut fossil fuel based plastic packaging.
In just three months businesses ditched a staggering 30,436 single use plastic takeaway items (not counting plastic bags).
The national ’Plastic Free Places’ program is administered by Boomerang Alliance and was designed to help restaurants, cafes, events and markets replace single-use plastics such straws, cutlery, coffee cups, takeaway containers and bottled water with reusable or compostable alternatives.
Waste Wise Mornington Peninsula’s Co-Founder and Plastic Free Places Program
Co-ordinator Birte Moliere said most single use plastic was not recycled and ended up in landfill or litter on beaches, waterways and eventually in the bay.
“Plastic doesn’t disappear and it can take over 1000 years to break up into smaller
and smaller pieces,” Ms Moliere said.
“In Australia alone, 2,700,000 disposable coffee cups end up in landfill every day.”
She said Waste Wise planned to launch a dedicated website with a local business directory and online resources for residents and businesses.
“We’re setting a real example for how business can thrive and look after the
environment at the same time,” she said.
Details: plasticfreeplaces.org/mt- martha
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