The Ceredigion Plastic and Packaging Reduction Scheme was launched on 16 April 2019 and is carried out by Ceredigion County Council and the Welsh voluntary environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy. The scheme’s aim is to encourage businesses, schools, cafes and take away outlets in Ceredigion to rethink their plastic use and to reduce their overall usage of plastic and packaging.
Ysgol Craig y Wylfa was the first school in Ceredigion to be awarded with an accreditation certificate. New Quay, Aberaeron, Llechryd, Bro Sion Cwilt, Comins Coch, Rhydpennau, Llanon and Llangwyryfon primary schools have also been awarded a certificate.
Each school has stopped using plastic straws, and are working to reduce their overall usage of plastic. Other measures some schools have put in place include encouraging plastic reduction in the community through the re-use of bags and recycling old school uniforms. Ysgol Craig y Wylfa have also introduced a compost bin that allows the correct disposal of food waste including fruit.
Ysgol Craig y Wylfa pupils, Lily Jones and Rose Bird said, “We think it is very important to reduce the use of plastic as animals are in danger. It is also affecting our environment. Over 90,000 of the world’s sea birds have plastic in their guts!”
Melanie Heath, Cardigan Bay Marine Protected Area Officer said, “Our young people care passionately about issues such as plastic pollution and climate change. The Ceredigion Plastic and Packaging Reduction Accreditation Scheme provides young people with the opportunity to actively make a difference as a school community and to celebrate their achievements in helping to reduce plastic in our oceans.”
Alun Williams, Cabinet Member Champion for Sustainability, Ceredigion County Council said, “When the scale of plastic pollution along our coast and in our society in general first became known, local communities the length of Ceredigion stepped forward to take up the challenge. Ceredigion Council quickly recognised that, as a local authority responsible for schools and many other services, we could make a real difference by changing the way we work and the materials we use in our daily activities.
We are delighted that our schools have shown such enthusiasm for reducing their plastic use and enormous credit must go to our award winners who have demonstrated their willingness to be at the forefront of this important campaign.”
The scheme has been established with funding from Natural Resources Wales, in an attempt to both raise awareness and to try and reduce the increasing amount of plastic that makes its way into the marine environment.
If you would like to sign up for the Ceredigion Plastic and Packaging Reduction Scheme or if you require more information please contact melanie.heath2@ceredigion.gov.uk.
08/07/2019