Pupils’ postcards thank companies for cutting back on single-use plastics and ask other businesses to think about reducing their own
School-children are sending postcards to businesses thanking them for cutting back on single-use plastics and encouraging other companies to do more.
Cleaner streets operations officer John Rees with waste policy and performance officer Angela Tozer and six-year-old Isabelle with one of the postcards being sent to local and national companies Pupils’ postcards thank companies for cutting back on singleuse plastics and ask other businesses to think about reducing their own Pupils in Porthcawl primary schools are sending postcards to businesses in the town thanking them for cutting back on single-use plastics – and asking other firms to do all they can to stop using excess packaging. It comes after school-children played a key role in the town’s Love It, Don’t Trash It! campaign aimed at raising awareness of the effects of rubbish left both on the streets and on the beach. The campaign included a poster competition with the winning designs being turned into posters and placed on signs around the town. Now, following a workshop led by SeaQuest on reducing plastic in their day-to-day lives, children are writing postcards to businesses thanking them for the steps they have already taken to cut back on plastics or encouraging them to do more. Porthcawl is hoping to become the first plastic-free town in Bridgend. 28 | seaside news
Bridgend County Borough Council’s deputy leader Hywel Williams said: “Over the last few months, BCBC has been working with Porthcawl Town Council and Surfers Against Sewage calling on local businesses to stop using at least three single-use plastics. “It includes things like plastic straws, bottles and tops as well as cutlery, sauce sachets, drinking cups and bags which are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to littering with too many of them damaging the planet after finding their way into the world’s oceans. “Local businesses have shown a real commitment to cutting back on single-use plastics looking at what they can do differently. “The postcards are a way for children to have their say, sending a ‘thank you’ to the businesses that they choose, both local and national, who have made some lasting changes and encouraging others to think about what they can do to help the environment.” The postcards which depict the overall winning design in the poster competition can be hand-delivered, if based locally, or posted. Finnegans Fish Bar is among the businesses in Porthcawl to have taken action, using paper bags instead of plastic ones, while the Side Walk Café and the Cosy Corner restaurant have stopped using plastic straws. BCBC recently ran a free workshop with businesses in the town to look at how they can do things differently and what different types of packaging are out there. SeaQuest’s assistant manager Jo Taylor-King said: “Following the success of the Love It, Don’t Trash It! campaign SeaQuest are excited at the prospect of once again working with Bridgend County Borough Council on our shared goals of promoting the reduction of plastics in Porthcawl. “We always enjoy working with the young people of Porthcawl their enthusiasm is inspiring.” For more information, contact communications officer Elizabeth Bradfield on (01656) 643663 or Email: elizabeth.bradfield@bridgend.gov.uk Website: www.bridgend.gov.uk