A MAJOR campaign to cut the amount of plastic used in Evesham in 2018 by 50 per cent was launched in the heart of the town centre.
The Get Drastic on Plastic campaign, organised by Transition Evesham Vale and supported by a wide range of local bodies, aims to curb the tackle the problem caused by waste plastic around the world.
Town mayor Coun Richard Jones, started the ball rolling and revealed his offer of replacement ink cartridges was helping to save the millions of tons of oil which go into making the large amounts of cartridges which are used every day by individuals and companies the world over.
Coun Emma Stokes, cabinet member for the Environment on Wychavon District Council called for the end of plastic altogether and said: “It is such a threat to the planet it is time to take the really drastic measures called for by the campaign”.
The three other main political parties were also represented and Coun Margaret Rowley for the Liberal Democrats, and Green town councillors Colin Tether and Julie Tucker, gave their warm support.
A key part of the launch was a turtle made out of plastic bottles by the pupils of St Egwins Middle School, to draw attention to the dangers faced by the wild life of our countryside and our oceans from plastic in its various forms.
The children read out their messages about the importance they attached to ‘Reduce, Re-use, Recycle or Reject’, the four ‘R’s of the campaign.
‘One-use’ plastic should never now be bought, as it can last for hundreds of years. Some of the 50 per cent of plastic bottles still not recycled had also been brought by the children.
Robin Walker of Transition Evesham Vale said: “It has been excellent to see the breadth of support for our 2018 campaign.
“We hope to be spreading it to the schools, businesses and community organisations around the Vale in the weeks and months to come. It is a considerable challenge but also a ‘snowball campaign,’ to which absolutely everyone can make a contribution”.
