Wilmslow has joined a network of communities across the UK who are heading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source.
The town has been awarded ‘Plastic Free Community’ status by the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).
The award was granted in recognition of the work Wilmslow businesses and residents have done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.
Local volunteers began the campaign after the screening of Blue Planet II, and sensing local concern around the impact of inappropriately discarded plastic products.
Ruth Menlove and Andrew Backhouse worked with Wilmslow Town Council and others to set up a steering group to register with the SAS Plastic Free Communities Movement.
They followed a five-point action plan, which included getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, schools, organisations and community groups to minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use.
Ruth commented: “From the outset, it was clear that we were pushing at an open door.
“We found an enthusiasm in the local community – from organisations both large and small – and from the general public to help drive the project forward.
“Most businesses in Wilmslow appeared sensitive to environmental issues in general and to recycling and reduced plastic use in particular.
“For example, the Information Commission removed waste bins previously placed beside every desk each lined with a plastic bag, cleared daily. Now it has central waste collection points that are segregated by recyclables.”
The volunteers organised three ‘plastic free stalls’ and two public meetings at which suggestions for individual action were promoted.
Wilmslow High School persuaded sixth form students to save all their plastic waste from lunchtime over one day to make a powerful demonstration which revealed the sheer volume of plastic consumed by the pupils there.
Wilmslow Plastic Free Group also staged plastic unwraps at both the Waitrose and Sainsbury’s stores in the town.
The variety and size of the organisations that have demonstrated positive action to reduce plastics include the local council, independent firms and large national chains.
Wilmslow Plastic Free Group has also engaged with primary schools in the area as well as community groups, faith groups and sports clubs.
Andrew commented: “We’re delighted that the efforts of local organisations have been formally recognised with this award.
“We will be using it as a vehicle on which to encourage even more to join the movement.
“We can already see very positive steps throughout the business community as customer pressure increases.”
Rachel Yates, SAS Plastic Free Communities project officer said: “It’s great to see the work that Wilmslow has done to reduce the availability of avoidable plastics, raise awareness and encourage people to refill and reuse.
“We have over six hundred communities across the UK working to reduce single use plastic and the impact it has on our environment.
“Every step those communities and the individuals in them take is a step towards tackling the problem at source, challenging our throwaway culture and encouraging the habit and system changes we need to see.”
The Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community Network aims to free places from single-use plastic.
Using the five point plan, the aim is to empower communities to kickstart local grassroots action.
