Statement of Support for Establishing Plastic Free Yatton & Claverham.
Published: 28 October 2022
As a Parish Council, we would like to support our local residents and community in making choices to reduce their use of single use plastics to ensure they can make an impact on our footprint on the planet. We have noted with great concern the issues associated with single-use plastics and the global problem of plastic pollution. Millions of new items of plastic are made every year, with this set to increase dramatically over the next 20 years. Every day, approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than there are fish (by weight). We see this as a serious concern, which must be addressed at local level as well as by Central Government and across the globe.
We have passed a resolution as of 26th September 2022 to commit to exploring how we can significantly reduce the sale, provision and use of avoidable single-use plastics. We’ve already acted to eliminate the use of single-use plastics within the Parish Council owned building Hangstones Pavilion by providing visitors with crockery and kitchen facilities to eliminate the need for single use plastics. We have also purchased a water bottle filling and drinking fountain to be installed on Hangstones fields to reduce purchase levels of water in plastic bottles and the need for them when exercising or playing sport on the recreation fields. We also know we have an important role to play in influencing others to do likewise.
As a result, we’re pleased to be supporting the Plastic Free Communities initiative. This provides a toolkit for communities to work to reduce plastic use at a local level. We will endeavour to assist the Plastic Free Community Leader and volunteers to spread the message of reducing single use plastics and encourage businesses, organisations and residents to take action. Reducing single use plastics can reduce litter, making our village a more pleasant place to live and reducing waste can help businesses and organisations to save money with their waste collections.
We and our individual members therefore commit to supporting, encouraging and promoting the work of Plastic Free Yatton & Claverham.
Businesses and organisations willing to become a Plastic Free Champion by eliminating 3 or more sources of single use plastic should contact the Plastic Free Community Leader, details here https://plasticfree.org.uk/community/yatton-claverham/