Date issued: 23 November 2018
Local residents John Franklin and Karen Shergold have been announced as the first winners of the Colchester Plastic Pledge competition, scooping reusable bottles and bags as prizes.
The winners, like many other residents, have made pledges to reduce their use of plastics. The two winners, who were selected at random, have received their reusable bottles and bags which have been donated by Colchester Museums and Colchester Market.
The Colchester Plastic Pledge campaign has been launched by Colchester Borough Council to actively encourage residents and other local organisations to be plastic aware. They are being urged to follow the council’s example by making their own online pledge to reduce their use of single-use plastics.
In the first weeks of the campaign around 100 residents have submitted a Colchester Plastic Pledge with the two most popular pledges being made to use reusable bottles and stop using plastic straws.
Some residents have also created their own pledges, many relating to their own buying habits and highlighting a desire for organisations to stop using and providing single-use plastics to their customers.
The Colchester Plastic Pledge campaign is part of the council’s drive to help the environment by reducing waste, and in particular plastic waste. It also supports the council’s Better Colchester campaign which aims to make the borough an even better place to live, work and visit.
The council has also received support for its efforts from Sir David Attenborough, whose programme Blue Planet 2 highlighted the dangerous of plastics being dumped in our oceans.
Councillor David King, Portfolio Holder for Resources, said: “The message to me from Sir David was 'Good luck in your battle to combat plastic waste'. He encourages us all to respond to the impact of plastics on our environment, animal and sea life – and the risks to human health.
“It was fantastic to receive that message of support, and it drove me to seek the support of this council and our residents. I thank them, those who are thinking harder about plastics, those signing the Pledge or changing what they do.
“They show that residents are concerned and want businesses and organisations to make it easier for them, and to change their use of single-use plastics. As a council we are setting an example, which I am urging others to follow.”
Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation, said: “Having made our own pledge as an organisation to phase out our use of single-use plastics, I’m delighted that residents like John and Karen are engaging with the campaign and making their own pledges too. By pledging to make a change, together we can all help reduce plastic pollution and help the environment.”
Any resident wanting to make their pledge to reduce their use of plastics can do so at www.colchester.gov.uk/colplasticpledge
Two further competition prize draws will take place before the end of January 2019.
Page last reviewed: 23 November 2018