Businesses, community groups and schools across County Durham are being urged to sign a single use plastics pledge.
Durham County Council is asking individuals and organisations to commit to reducing their plastic waste by switching to reusable items which can be used over and over again.
Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “Since the 1950s, the world has produced more than 9 billion metric tonnes of plastics. It’s thought that more than five trillion pieces of plastic are in the world’s oceans and, as plastics aren’t biodegradable, they can stay in the environment for hundreds of years.
“This can impact on our health as well as the environment and, of course, it also contributes to climate change as nearly all plastics are made from fossil fuels. That’s why it’s so important that we all do our bit to cut down on single use plastics.
“Simple changes like carrying reusable shopping bags and bottles, or packing your lunch in a reusable container, can make a huge difference, and we’d encourage everyone to help bring about a positive change both at home and within their organisation.”
The single use plastics pledge was originally launched by the council in 2018 and already has over 300 signatures from individuals, schools, community groups and larger organisations.
Beamish Museum is one of many organisations across County Durham which has already signed the pledge.
It offers water refill points across the museum as well as discounts when using a reusable coffee cup or bespoke Beamish drinking cup in the pubs, or for flavoured milk from the 1950s milk bar, encouraging everyone to be more sustainable.
Lisa Wilkinson, the museum’s sustainability manager, said: “Beamish Museum was delighted to sign the pledge and make a difference by eliminating single use plastic, wherever possible, across the museum. We don’t use any in our food outlets, and have implemented greener, more sustainable options across the organisation, and we know it is what our visitors want and expect.
“It is so important that we all help protect the environment and wildlife from the devastating impacts of single use plastic.”
To sign up to the pledge, visit durham.gov.uk/singleuseplastics
To find out more about what happens to the items that are recycled and why it is important to recycle, visit durham.gov.uk/recyclingmatters
• Pictured above: Cllr Mark Wilkes, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change (centre), with Lisa Wilkinson (left), sustainability manager for Beamish Museum; Linda Joyce (third left), Durham University’s procurement lead; Rhiannon Hiles (fourth left), chief executive of Beamish Museum, Catharine Harwood (right), Durham Youth Council lead, alongside other representatives from Beamish and Durham County Council.