A NEW group of Redditch residents is seeking to highlight plastic waste.
As an initial challenge members of ‘Eco n Wise Redditch’ set themselves a week-long task to reduce the amount of plastic waste in their home.
The combined findings of the group were that out of 389 items collected, only 131 were recyclable, which left 66 per cent to go to landfill.
Member Claire Davies said: “As a family of six we try to avoid plastic as much as is reasonably possible, yet we still created 88 items, with only 24 recyclable.
“I have the luxury of time to bake, and research alternatives, but it shouldn’t be this time consuming.
“Easily accessible and affordable options for plastic free living need to be readily available, and quickly.”
Another local mum Sharon Harvey collected 136 items of plastic – from lemonade bottles to toilet tissue wrappers. She said: “I am shocked a family of five created so much plastic waste in one week. I’m even more upset to find out that 108 of those items cannot be recycled in the Redditch Borough Council green bin.”
It was a similar story among other members, with one, Rochelle Crawford, saying: “Not having children meant I produced less waste but accessibility to plastic free products is difficult, regardless of how many mouths there are to feed.”
The group have now approached Redditch MP Rachel Maclean and challenged her to make a plastic audit of her office.
She said: “I am very passionate about protecting our environment and conserving it for future generations.
“That’s why I jumped at the chance of taking part in Eco n Wise’s plastic audit.
“Through the work of Eco n Wise, it seems Redditch is leading the way in getting the message out there that we must do more to reduce plastic waste.”
To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/groups/econwise
