Campaigners back council plastic policy

ANTI-PLASTIC campaigners have backed a council's bid to reduce single use plastics across their borough.
Lissie Pollard, Giles Babb and Bianca Carr, all of Final Straw SolentLissie Pollard, Giles Babb and Bianca Carr, all of Final Straw Solent
Lissie Pollard, Giles Babb and Bianca Carr, all of Final Straw Solent

Bianca Carr, co-founder of Final Straw Solent, has congratulated Fareham Borough Council's new policy '˜Give Plastic the Push' which councillors will vote on in a meeting on September 3.

The strategy proposes stop using plastic straws and stirrers in council buildings by the end of 2018,  include a clause in leases requiring catering concessions, commercial properties and community centres to reduce the use of single use plastic and make it easier for residents to recycle by seeking ways in which a wider range of plastics and other dry recyclable materials can go in the blue top bins.

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Bianca said: '˜I think it is great the council are leading this from the front and will hopefully inspire their residents to take part.

'˜It is so important that everyone works together because united we are a powerful voice that can change things for the better.'

There will be a range of '˜Give Plastic the Push' promotional material including signs on the side of the Council's refuse and recycling vehicles, promotional banners for events, branded reusable coffee mugs and reusable drinking water bottles.

Posters and leaflets will also be distributed around the Borough and key messages for residents, including saying no to disposable straws and cutlery and carrying a reusable water bottle, will be on the bin collection Christmas calendar.

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Executive member for Streetscene for the council, Councillor Simon Martin said: '˜I think the issue of single use plastics is one of the largest problems we have and as a council on the coast we think it is essential that we do out bit. We have developed a policy which will be rolled out in the council and across the borough.' 

Portsmouth City Council have also pledged to reduce their plastic use as they look to encourage traders to sell re-usable containers as well as phasing out single-use plastics at council-run sites. It comes as The News and Final Straw Solent have teamed up to reduce plastic waste  with more than 100 businesses pledging to decrease their use of single use plastics including straws.