Resources
- Indvidual Action Plan - Plastic Free Communities download
- Keep recycling as much of your plastic and other waste as possible through the weekly recycling collections. Information for Bath and North East Somerset residents and businesses about Waste and recycling and Plastics in the district.
- Search the Libraries West catalogue. Try the search terms ‘plastic free’ or ‘plastic pollution’ to find relevant books and media available for loan from our libraries.
Plastic Free Bathnes and Covid-19
Plastic Free Bathnes recognises that plastic has played an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep key workers safe with PPE. However, we have seen an increase in litter and a weakened committment to encourage the reduce, reuse and recycle of materials. Take a look at how you can continue your commitment to reduce single use plastic during the Covid-19 pandemic whilst keeping yourself and others safe.
Have a look at City to Sea's #ContaclessCoffee campaign
Read Surfers Against Sewage's blog on 'Unpacking Refill and Reuse in the Age of Corona'
Organising a litter pick
Council support for organising a litter pick in your area - borrow litter pickers, gloves and arrange waste collection.
#NoPlaceForLitter - We are very lucky that many dedicated residents work year-in, year-out to pick up litter in their neighbourhoods, either quietly on their own or in groups. #NoPlaceForLitter is a local voluntary group with lots of experience on litter issues, who offer thier support to others wishing to organise a Litter Pick and can help with sharing thier knowledge, give advice and also provide equipment.
Community-led initiatives in the area helping us reduce plastic use
- Refill Bath - Free water refill points to make it easier to reuse and refill your water bottle instead of buying a new one.
- Last Straw - Families for a Bright Future talk to businesses about phasing out plastic straws and other unnecessary single-use plastic.
- Repair Cafes - Expert fixers run regular drop-in sessions to save broken items being thrown away.
- Library of things: Borrow It & Bath Library of Things - Borrow don't buy, a range of useful items which are needed only for occasional use, e.g. tools, household, gardening equipment, catering utensils, camping items, children & baby equipment.
- Bath Toy Library - choose from the lending library of hundreds of toys for children under five, open to parents and carers in and around Bath.
Schools
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The Plastic Free Schools toolkit will be sent to you when you sign up here.
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Plastic Pollution in the oceans - Key stage 5 teaching resources from the Royal Geographic Society.
Recycling specialist materials
For materials that are harder to recycle there are local collection points for schemes, often funded by the manufacturers of the products. Examples include: water filters, toothbrushes, crisp packets, toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes. TerraCycle website has a directory of schemes that they manage on behalf of several manufacturers, and if manufacturers of specific products have return/recycling schemes in place, details are usually listed on their product's websites.
Blogs and plastic free campaigns
There are lots of detailed blogs and plastic free champions out there, sharing their experiences and knowledge on blogs and social media. Have a look on your favourite social media platforms.
Getting into more detail
Documents, organistions and other more detailed information from those involved in tackling the plastics issue:
- Waste and Resources Strategy for England (gov.uk website)
- UK Plastic Pact - Setting four key targets for 2025 to transform the UK plastic packaging sector
- Eliminating avoidable plastic waste by 2042 (Resource Futures) - an innovative way of categorising plastic in decision making
- Unwrapping Plastics (The Sustainable Restaurant Association) - toolkit for businesses
- New Plastics Economy - The initiative is led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with a broad group of leading companies, cities, philanthropists, policymakers, academics, students, NGOs, and citizens. Using circular economy principles to rethink the global plastics economy so that plastic never becomes waste or pollution.
- 'Drowning in Plastic' - watch Liz Bonnin's lecture at the Royal Geographical Society (Nov 2018)
