Wrexham Council unveils plans to cut down on single-use plastics

Wrexham Council has unveiled plans to cut back and minimise its use of single-use plastics.

The draft ‘Reduction of Single-Use Plastic Action Plan 2019-2020’ has been published ahead of a meeting between members of the council’s homes and environment scrutiny committee next Wednesday.

It includes reducing single-use packaging that are used in meetings and at conference facilities along with lunches/buffets no longer being required at training events.

Progress already made within the local authority includes removing all single use plastic drinks for visitors from the Mayor’s Parlour and introducing cardboard cups used for hot drinks in meeting rooms and wooden stirrers.

Looking ahead the plan outlines actions for the next 12 months, including creating a “suite of graphics that can be used for digital and offline marketing” and issue “informative graphics across all media channels to target householders, schools and commercial customers covering reduction of single-use plastics and contamination levels in recyclable types”.

The council says it also working with Ty Pawb food outlets to reduce plastic cutlery usage.

In terms of Ty Pawb the plan adds that a water fountain will be installed in the arts and markets facility in the last quarter of 2018/19, which will be complemented by limited edition reusable water bottles.

The report adds: “The thinking behind increasing the number of publicly accessible water fountains is to benefit health through drinking more water and to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles.”

Schools across the county borough have also been encouraged to reduce their plastic usage, including the replacement of plastic forks with wooden forks for 6,000 high school meals a day and replacing single use plastic dessert pots in primary schools with reusable pots.

Going forward the council say they will look to try to reduce single-use packaging that is produced for when school meals are provided for events and trips off-site and attempt to cut down on single-use packaging that is created during themed meals.

Pupils from schools across Wrexham have also taken part in a new programme of ‘Recycling and Waste Minimisation’ workshops at the Bryn Lane Recycling Centre.

As of the end of March 18 sessions have been delivered at the site, covering topics such as:

– What is collected in different recycling receptacles
– The importance of avoiding contamination
– The Blue Planet II effect
– Reducing single-use plastics
– The importance of waste minimisation and recycling education
– Tailored support for maximising their on-site recycling activity

The report continues onto say: “Schools and pupils visiting this facility have the benefit of witnessing activity within the Materials Recovery Facility via the viewing gallery.

“Alternatively, officers can deliver workshops or assemblies within schools. A number of classes and Eco Committees that have visited the Education Room are sharing their knowledge with their wider schools via whole school assemblies.”

Locally there has been a drive outside of the local authority to reduce single use plastics, with a number of businesses offering paper straws – along with calls for government to set targets for plastic waste reduction from Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones.

The report will be considered by members of the homes and environment scrutiny committee on Wednesday 10th April at 2pm. The meeting is open to the public and can also be viewed from the comfort of your own home via the council’s webcasting system.