Somerset Council urge locals to 'take on the challenge' of Plastic-Free July

Locals here in Somerset are being urged to 'take on the challenge' and go single-use plastic free this July.

The council has revealed closed to 6,500 tonnes of plastic - or 29 lorry loads - was recycled every single month last year.

It's part of their efforts to make Somerset a 'greener, more sustainable county'.

Plastic Free July is a global initiative working towards a world free of plastic waste, which you can learn more about - and take a 'Pesky Plastics Quiz' - on the charity's website.

It's claimed signing up to the Plastic Free July challenge is the easiest way to help people:

• Discover the plastic free solutions that suit them
• Be counted alongside the millions of people who are making a difference
• Contribute to the global success of Plastic Free July

Kirsty Larkins, Somerset Council’s Service Director for Climate and Sustainability said: “We know that people in Somerset love being part of a green and diverse landscape and we can all play our part to help keep it special. Somerset Council is committed to a greener, more sustainable county. We want to encourage our residents to join the pledge to make plastic-free choices during July and beyond.”

Somerset Council have shared some simple changes which can help to make us all go 'plastic-free'.

These include:

• Opt for the plastic free, or no packaging alternatives. Loose fruit and vegetables are available in many supermarkets or pick items wrapped in paper rather than plastic
• Use a reusable water bottle. Somerset has five, free-to-use tap water stations – find your local one online
• Switch from bottle to bar for your bathroom products. Somerset has many re-fill shops, support local businesses while picking up your plastic free alternatives
• When plastic cannot be avoided, much of it can be recycled in the weekly kerbside collections throughout Somerset - use the Bright Blue Bag for plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays

Plastic bags and wrapping are not currently part of the collections in Somerset, although Somerset Council say they are taking part in national trials that should pave the way for kerbside collections of these materials in years to come.

You can find out more about household recycling collections in Somerset here.

You can find out more about Somerset Council's soft plastic recycling scheme here.

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