Posted: 9th October 2019
All across the UK there are over 620 communities working to become accredited by Surfers Against Sewage as one of their “Plastic Free Communities“. Check out the map and see if your community is working towards this status or you can help to set one up. There wasn’t one in our county when I started so I volunteered with Sustainable Newport in Shropshire and we achieved our target in September. I’m now working on a voluntary basis with other groups across Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire and over the borders to help replicate this success.
Every community working towards this accreditation needs to have business’s on their side to hit their targets – your local community lead can provide further information. Business’s have to commit to remove/not use at least 3 items of Single Use Plastic and develop plans on how to tackle the rest. We’ve had several WiRE members help in these efforts by dropping single use plastic items such as cups, bags, straws, balloons and water bottles. Once you make the commitment your business receives a certificate and plaque which you can display and once the community achieves all 5 objectives you’re able to use the “Plastic Free Approved” stamp. If anyone would like to find out more you can look on the Surfers Against Sewage website for information on your community or by registering directly as Plastic Free Champion?
I’m happy to be contacted by anyone who wants to know more about becoming a community lead and know most leads in Shropshire and over the borders so can help you engage with your local group.
