Concern over global plastic waste and harmful pollution has been big news for a while, and can seem overwhelming. TV programmes have highlighted damage caused to the marine environment and wildlife; research also shows we are all ingesting and breathing in microscopic plastic particles every day.
What can we do as individuals to prevent the increase of plastic pollution? What can we do as a town? Abingdon Carbon Cutters’ sub-group Abingdon Cuts Plastic started in January 2018. We encourage everyone to ” Refuse, Reduce, Refill, Re-use.”
We are affiliated to the national environmental charity “Surfers Against Sewage” (SAS), and in summer 2019 became the 65th UK community to be granted “Plastic-Free” status. Of course, this doesn’t mean there is no single-use plastic in the town, but that there are enough businesses, schools, individuals and community groups committed to reducing their use of plastic. To be granted the status, we had to meet the five SAS objectives, which include having strong links with the Town Council, which now has a Green Scrutiny committee.
Another objective is to take action, eg our twice-yearly river and riverbank clean-ups in conjunction with AbiBinit litter-picking group. 12 independent businesses are “Plastic-Free Champions”; Please look for the SAS Plastic Free Communities plaque (bronze/silver/gold) displayed in the window or on the shop counter. This demonstrates that they are working hard to remove single use plastic from their business. Liquid cleaning materials can be refilled with SESI products, such as hand soap, washing up liquid and white vinegar, at Oxford Wood Recycling Centre, Suffolk Way, off Drayton Road OX 14 5JX.
We give a talk on “Plastic Pollution and how to reduce it” to schools, Scouts, and any group which requests it. We campaign to get supermarkets and their suppliers to produce less plastic packaging etc; MP Layla Moran supported us by writing to the HQ of each of the 5 supermarkets in Abingdon. Manufacturers and the Government have a big part to play in the reduction of single-use plastic. Look out for upcoming Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) and End Producer Responsibility schemes (EPR) – as consumers we all have influence through our purchasing choices.
Surfers Against Sewage report that : Today, one in ten barrels of oil is used to create new plastic. In the UK, we use 340 million single use bags a year. The nation produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. Plastic never disappears, it simply breaks down into micro and nano plastics.
We are a small group, including a Town Council representative. We meet quarterly and always welcome new members. Please contact Kim Jones: .
If you, your business or your school would like to reduce single use plastics, please look at these websites for support or get in touch with us and we would be delighted to help.
Anne Smart sadly passed away in summer 2024. We are forever grateful for her dedicated vision of a plastic free Abingdon and all the hard work and time that she devoted to making this a reality. We are determined to continue to campaign for more progress and to support Abingdon in the transition to a more sustainable future
- Please read this report by Gerry Tissier to read about the horrors of plastic pollution (Jan 2021)
- References and background material for Gerry Tissier’s Plastics report (Jan 2021)
- Anne Smart has made an A to Z of how to avoid plastic (pdf) after attempting to live plastic-free for a year. Alternatively see Anne’s Video, which was presented on 17th March 2021 on our Bright Green Ideas Swap evening.
- About Anne’s Pledge to Cut Plastic