Hayle is Awarded ‘Plastic Free Communities’ Status as it Takes Action on Single-Use Plastic

Hayle has joined a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source. The town has been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.

Local SAS rep, Annette Eatock started the campaign after years of beach cleans that collected increasing amounts of plastic. With the support of Hadden Page (joint lead) the objectives were reached towards the end of last year. We wanted Hayle to gain recognition for the many people that are already trying to reduce single use plastics and encourage more individuals and businesses to do the same.

Registering with the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement, Annette and Hadden pulled together key organisations and businesses in the town to put in place a five-point plan. The objectives include; setting up a community led steering group, instigating the SAS Plastic Free Schools education programme, getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, organisations and community groups to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use. “It’s been quite easy as so many individuals and businesses are already doing so much. There are already so many links across the community of Hayle such as between businesses, schools, and community groups such as the Brownies. Throughout the process Hayle Town Council have been very supportive and always provide the Steering Group meeting place for free.”

We now have 12 businesses that are Plastic Free Champions, with more on the way. The changes they have made range from removing plastic straws and plastic drinks bottles, to replacing bubble wrap with cardboard packaging. All businesses are encouraged to continue to reduce any single use plastics they can.

Over the last few years we have organised 7 beach cleans with that latest one attracting 60 volunteers. The Plastic Free Hayle celebration event at The Cornish Arms, was very successful with over £200 raised. Thanks to all the support from local businesses for the great raffle prizes and live music from Saltwater Cure. Follow us on Facebook ‘Plastic Free Hayle’ for the next Beach Cleans and events. “It’s exciting to get the status for Hayle, but there’s a long way to go. Of course, we aren’t totally plastic free, but it’s great to celebrate all that people have done and look towards the next steps of the journey.”

The Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community network aims to free the places where we live from single-use. Using the five point plan the aim is to empower communities to kick start local grassroots action, which can then be built upon.

The marine conservation charity,based in St Agnes in Cornwall, says it wants to unite communities to tackle avoidable plastic from the beach all the way back to the brands and businesses who create it. It says it is not about removing all plastic from our lives, but kicking our addiction to throwaway plastic and changing the system that produces it. Rachel Yates, SAS Plastic Free Communities Project Officer, said: “It’s great to see the work that Hayle 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.”

More information:
Annette Eatock, Community Lead,
Plastic Free Hayle:
annette@lizardadventure.co.uk
07845 204040
Plastic Free Communities:
www.plasticfree.org.uk
Surfers Against Sewage:
www.sas.org.uk

Plastic Free Communities is an ambitious community initiative designed to unite and empower individuals, small businesses, local government and community groups to reduce their collective plastic footprint and protect the environment together. Driven by inspirational local volunteers, we are building a new and exciting community movement tackling single-use plastics and plastic litter in our villages, towns, cities and rural locations. This highly inclusive initiative, created for all ages and backgrounds, is designed to get the whole community active and do something positive to reduce the amount of plastic in the local environment. We believe that united communities lead to cleaner beaches, streets, parks and riverbanks.

via http://haylepump.org.uk/Issue149/pump%20issue%20150.pdf