THE WASTE ACTION GROUP
Next Plastic Waste Collection 21st January 2012 Morrison's Car Park 10am to 1pm
Our roots – Plastic Carrier Free Crediton
Sustainable Crediton has an enthusiastic Waste Action Group (WAG). We were formed in early 2008 when a group of supporters decided to work with the local traders with the aim of making Crediton a Plastic Carrier Bag Free Town.
After 10 months of effort our campaign culminated in the launch of Plastic Bag Free Crediton in November 2008, with over 90% of the local shops joining in. Our well publicised launch was marked by a visit from Rebecca Hosking of Modbury, Britains first plastic bag free town, to our celebrations. Then at the end of October 2009 we celebrated our first anniversary by giving away 100 special, environmentally friendly, Crediton jute bags in the town.
We are continuing to address the issue of plastic carrier bags with the town's two major supermarkets.
More details of our campaign can be found at the following link: Plastic Bag Campaign
The Next Step?
The group has not forgotten these origins, and will continue to pressure the town’s chain stores to join local shops in reducing plastic bag dependence. However the production and disposal of waste is a huge and important environmental issue, not just limited to carrier bags. As a result we are now broadening our horizons to look at other waste related issues in our area.
Our current aims
‘To encourage local residents to make better use of Earth’s finite resources by adopting the 3 R's :
- Reducing waste
- Re-using where possible
- Recycling more '
We are currently looking at a number of local issues to develop into projects that fulfill these aims:
To Reduce Waste:
- Investigate products already on market and available in our area that cut down use of resources esp plastics eg. products in refillable containers, toothbrushes with removable heads.
- Start a local 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaign investigating local supermarket food wastage and how this waste could be cut down/reused
- Composting: hold awareness raising/how to events on composting, encourage uptake of Council composters
- Hold local supermarkets to account for infringements to their corporate policy on packaging and plastic bags and work with them to achieve compliance.
To Re-use resources:
- Hold ‘organised flytipping’ events for people to bring along larger household items to give away/swop.
- Hold Clothes swop/restyle/swishing events to attract young people as well as older ones
Ecofashion and Clothes Swap Event 10th March 2012
- Organise a local freecycle network/ regular indoor freecycling events
- Plastic Bottles: start a campaign to cut down their use and to reuse them in creative ways.
To Recycle more:
- Builders skips: encourage builders to recycle skip contents eg pallets instead of sending them all to landfill and local people to 'skip raid'.
- Produce a generic leaflet to clear up confusion about recycling and encourage more people to recycle
- Increase awareness of fact that local recycling centre now takes food plastic containers and organise a regular collection and transport service for such plastics in Crediton. Plastics Recycling Leaflet here
- Start a 'Pick up litter' campaign/ have a litter pick up event, with aim of making people aware of how much litter is created in Crediton and how much of this is plastic, glass etc that can be recycled
Why Not Join Us?
The WAG is a friendly bunch who would welcome you as a new contributor whatever your talents and interests.
We have regular get togethers to plan and discuss progress to which everyone is welcome.
Please see the Sustainable Crediton monthly newsletter
on the News page for details of our next meeting or contact the group co-ordinator paula.mossman@lineone.net to find out more about us.
Recycling Links
Download our Plastic Bags facts leaflet here.
Ashley Recycling Centre Details
Punchbowl Recycling Centre Details
Types of Plastics accepted at Ashley and Punchbowl Recycling Centres
Draft Waste Consultation Comments
