Thatcham Town Council adopts plastic-free charter

Thatcham Town Council has adopted a plastic-free charter.

The initiative comes from Eco Friends West Berkshire, which is working to get local authorities, businesses and organisations to obtain Plastic Free Community Approved status by Surfers Against Sewage.

Plastic Free Thatcham – which is working with Eco Friends West Berkshire – said it is trying to bring people together to tackle throwaway plastic.

It is focusing on reducing reliance on single-use plastic and changing the system that produces it rather than removing all plastic from our lives.

The initiative focuses on 10 ‘main offenders’ that businesses and organisations should reduce using, providing or selling.

These are plastic carrier bags, disposable coffee cups and lids, single use plastic cups, plastic food or product packaging, balloons and balloon sticks, plastic straws and cutlery – both of which are banned by law – sachets, bathroom plastics and plastic drinking bottles.

The proposal was unanimously approved by the town council’s recreation and amenities committee earlier this month.

And in a full council meeting held on Monday (January 29) the charter was approved and adopted.

Member of Eco Friends West Berkshire Berkshire Jenny Kirby and chair Nikki Coome were both in attendance.

The chair gave a presentation on plastic use to the council chamber and answered questions on use of plastic bottles, wet wipes and chewing gum – which is made from plastic.

She told Newburytoday: “It was amazing.

“It was really fantastic that the town council supported reducing their plastic use and removing them from future events.

“We had unanimous support in the council.

“We had so many good questions and they [councillors] were interested in the presentation.

“They were really positive and interested in reducing their plastics.”