Plastic-free status close for Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire County Council is taking steps towards accreditation as one of the first plastic-free counties, endorsed by environmental charity Surfers against Sewage.

The council’s Strong Communities Select Committee has heard oral views about the damage that single-use plastics inflict on the environment, in addition to blighting communities with litter, and has proposed that the council make a commitment to work toward plastic-free status and review its own use of single-use plastics and take steps to identify and reduce unnecessary use of plastic.

Plastic-free community groups have started across Monmouthshire this year and all report huge levels of support from the public. Following huge national interest in reducing the use of single-use plastics, the county council has begun discussions about purchases from catering suppliers and how it can reduce the use of disposable plastic items.

Jane Pratt, chair of the council’s committee, said: “It is great to hear about the passion and hard work in our towns to tackle this important issue. It’s vital that the council and community groups work closely in partnership to maximise their efforts to reduce plastic use in the county.”