What have REG done about the use of plastic?
The Plastic Free Initiative.
We signed up to the Plastic Free Communities Initiative (PFI) in late 2022. See https://plasticfree.org.uk/ set up by the charity Surfers against Sewage. (SAS)
There were a variety of criteria to be achieved before the Read and Simonstone Plastic Free status could be awarded to our villages.
We had to sign up:
- 10 Community Allies – both primary Schools St. John’s and St. Peter’s. The Village Hall, the Friday Coffee Morning Group. Read and Simonstone Scouts and the Junior Football Club. The Cricket Club and the Womens Institute. St John’s Church. Tots and Tea at the Village Hall.
- 3 Local businesses who would be business champions – Fuzzy Duck, Bridge Heywood Caravan Park, Turtle Bee.
- One or both our local Parish Councils needed to pledge their support too.
Those taking part had to provide evidence to the SAS that pledges had been made and resolutions passed, which meant providing photos, minutes of meetings etc.
Tasks included
1 Identifying and removing at least 3 single use plastic items from day to day activities. Examples were:
a) Getting rid of single use plastic drink bottles and using a refillable water bottle.
Refusing single use takeaway cups – taking a coffee cup.
b) Looking for refill options, for example, hand soap, cleaning materials, food items.
c) Getting rid of single use plastic cutlery, teaspoons, stirrers, condiment sachets and single use packaging – using paper instead.
Some of these actions could be ‘retrofitted’.
2 Commit to include their stance on Single Use Plastic in communications.
Examples were mentioning their stance on their Facebook, website, on a strap line or on e-mails and posters.
By allowing REG to put up awareness raising posters in their space/give a talk.
By handing out Individual Action Plans.
3 Raise awareness generally and support Plastic Free Initiatives in the community.
For example, sending a member of their team to help us with a Mass Plastic Unwrap at Tesco. Joining in a community litter clean.
Businesses had to remove three single use plastics from and inspire other businesses and individuals.
The Parish Councils had to pass a resolution to support plastic free initiatives in the villages and state that they would lead by example and also name a representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group, this was Clifton Pollard.
We were pleased that the criteria for the project was eventually achieved. We hope that people are still maintaining the changes they made and are a lot more aware of what they can do to reduce the use of plastic in their every day lives. The villages were awarded Plastic Free Status in Spring 2024.