Julie Morgan AM :: Search for 'plastic-free' community champions is on!
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Search for 'plastic-free' community champions is on!
Julie Morgan AM and Anna McMorrin MP are on the look-out for community champions who want to help turn their local area 'plastic-free'.
The pair have already had a community champions come forward for Rhiwbina and Pontprennau - and now they're looking for champions in other parts of the constituency.
Julie Morgan AM said: "We’d like whole communities go single-use plastic-free including communities in Llanishen, Lisvane, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Heath, Tongwynlais, Gabalfa and Old St Mellons.
"We are looking for individuals or groups to take up this idea. It could be a group of school pupils, Scouts or Brownies or an Over-50s club, for example, and it would involve as much or as little time as people have. It doesn't necessarily have to involve visiting local businesses if people are unable to drive - they may be able to ring around, send letters or put up posters.
"We would just be pleased to see as many constituents as possible take up this issue which has had such massive public interest after David Attenborough's Blue Planet episode that really shocked us all about the extent of plastic pollution.
"If businesses and organisations could just take small steps, it all helps towards changing our throwaway plastic culture," she added.
Please get in touch with Julie Morgan's office on 029 2061 4577, or Anna McMorrin's office on 029 2062 4440, if you would like to champion the scheme in your area.
Who's going plastic-free in Rhiwbina?
Together with Naomi England (pictured below, left) Julie Morgan and Anna McMorrin organised an event at Snails Deli to launch the 'Plastic-free Rhiwbina' initiative and invited local businesses along, giving them the opportunity to share ideas about reducing plastic.
Julie Morgan said: "It was absolutely fantastic when Naomi England from Rhiwbina got in touch about the idea of making Rhiwbina the first single-use plastic-free community in Cardiff. Since then we've had another 'champion' get in touch wanting to replicate the initiative in Pontprennau but we're still looking for more people to take this up too."
Anna McMorrin MP said: "We were so pleased to discover that many businesses in Rhiwbina have already started on the plastic-free path including Parson’s Bakery and The Olive Branch which have stopped ordering plastic straws, Nest uses paper bags, Flower Lodge Florist plans to switch from cellophane to wax paper where possible, and Snails Deli offers a free cuppa when you purchase a reusable bamboo coffee cup."
As well as local business owners’ Naomi, Anna and Julie were joined by Year 3 Mini Ambassadors from Rhiwbeina Primary School who shared their ideas for reducing plastic waste. ‘The No Straw Stand’ campaigners led by Cardiff University Geography students Nia and Douglas were also on hand to offer helpful tips and alternatives to single-use plastic products.