‘Go Plastic Free’ Movement Gaining Impetus


Pupils from Looe Primary School, who were shocked by the amount of rubbish cleared from their local beach


Looe is leading the way


Looe is leading a growing movement across the county to go ‘plastic free’.


Some of the town’s cafes and pubs have already ditched plastic in favour of paper straws, and many more have pledged to make the switch.


And 19 businesses so far have signed up to the ReFill scheme, meaning that people can stop by and refill a reusable water container for free, rather than purchasing a plastic bottle.


Campaigner and author Ellie Jackson, who lives in the town, was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Looe Marine Conservation Group (LMCG). The purpose of the meeting was to share ideas on ways the town can play its part in reducing ocean plastic pollution.


Ellie said: ‘There was a real mix of people there at the meeting,


including business owners, and a couple of tourists who had seen the talk advertised and come along.


‘The enthusiasm of the audience was great – to have all these ideas bounce around the room, it was inspirational.’


There has already been real progress in Looe on getting rid of plastic straws – an action that Ellie sees as one simple and key way to reduce plastic waste.


Further measures


And now, further measures, such as using compostable paper cups and installing drinking water stations, are on the cards.


One distributor in the town, John’s Janitorial Supplies, has been ‘fantastic’ says the Looe Marine Conservation Group, in going the extra mile to help


businesses source environmentally friendly alternatives.


Not all the changes will be for everyone, says a LMCG spokesperson.


‘Some of the businesses see the ReFill scheme as a good way to get on the map, and philosophically, it fits with their views,’ the spokesperson said.


‘But others say, “I pay water rates and I’m a business selling bottled water, so why would I want to?”’


Conversely, Ellie says she has encountered no negativity so far when she has been speaking to traders about getting rid of plastic straws.


Her best advocates in the cause are children; having read the books describing the effect of plastic pollution on wildlife, and seen the plastic rubbish lying on their local beach, pupils from Looe Primary wrote to the town’s businesses urging them to go plastic free.


‘Children are our best voice and our best hope,’ said Ellie.


Diving team


These ‘synchronised swans’ were caught diving in unison for a bite to eat on the Looe River by photographer Peter Crumpler.


LOOE NEWS MARCH APRIL 2018 19


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32