Bembridge has joined a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source.
The village has been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.
Year-long survey
Local community leads: Lindsey Newberry and Ally de Trey started the campaign last year after spending a year conducting beach cleans and surveys on marine pollution with local residents. They saw the huge amount of plastic pollution and wanted to act to seriously reduce this.
Working with Chani Courtney, The Surfers Against Sewage Regional Representative, she supported them to join the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement. Lindsey and Ally pulled together key organisations and businesses in the town to put in place a five-point plan working with Bembridge Parish Council.
“Our community has really rallied around this initiative”
The objectives include: setting up a community led steering group, getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, organisations, community groups and individuals to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they all use.
Lindsey and Ally said,
“Our community has really rallied around this initiative. Businesses have led the way in reducing use of single-use plastic by eliminating some plastic and by using refill and reuse schemes.”
The awards
The Sea Room has achieved a gold award, Bembridge Barbers a silver award and David Hunt Tai Chi a bronze award. Other Bembridge businesses such as Woodford’s Butchers are working towards the bronze award.
Local community groups have supported the initiative by holding events in their premises and publicising the work being done. Bembridge Community Library and Hartford Care which owns The Elms and Inver House are active community allies supporting our work.
Raising awareness
A launch event in Bembridge Village Hall last year highlighted the sheer amount of plastic pollution and ways to stop this at a local, national and global level. Then an exhibition was put on in Bembridge Community Library earlier this year.
The issues have been discussed with Isle of Wight MPs Joe Robertson and, Richard Quigley and with the local Green Party lead Vix Lowthion, with positive feedback from these politicians.
Lindsey and Ally continue,
“We are very proud as a community to receive this award and are the first community on the Island to achieve this. Our work does not finish here but will expand and grow and hopefully encourage other Island communities to take part.
“Of course our village is not completely plastic free but is working hard to eliminate as much single use plastic as possible. We will have a stall at the Bembridge Community Groups Day on 31st May in the Village Hall.
“Please come along to find out more and get involved.”
Challenging our throwaway culture
Rachel Yates, SAS Plastic Free Communities Project Manager, said,
“It’s great to see the work that Bembridge has done to reduce the availability of avoidable plastics, raise awareness and encourage people to reduce, refill and reuse.”
“We have over six hundred communities across the UK working to reduce single use plastic and the impact it has on our environment.
“Every step those communities and the individuals in them take is a step towards tackling the problem at source, challenging our throwaway culture and encouraging the habit and system changes we need to see.”
News shared by Lindsey on behalf of Plastic Free Bembridge. Ed
