Share your pledge to beat plastic pollution

Orkney Islands Council is urging local residents to share ideas on reducing their plastic footprint, as part of activities to mark World Environment Day on 5 June.

World Environment Day is the United Nation’s most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment and this year’s theme is Beat Plastic Pollution.

Jayne Venables is the Council’s Project Coordination Manager for Waste: “Plastic pollution is one of the defining environmental challenges of our lifetime.

“For individuals, it can seem a momentous problem - but we can all, through reducing single use plastics, opting to recycle, and voting with our wallets, make a difference.

“This year we’ve seen local people tackle plastic pollution head on – from beach cleans by members of the public, to fantastic initiatives from school pupils such as the work St Andrews is doing making accessories from plastic wrappers, Glaitness School’s ‘Last Straw’ campaign, and Orphir School whose pupils collect a variety of miscellaneous plastics which are sent to Terracycle.

“Off the back of this we’re keen to make sure people are aware of the plastic recycling options provided by the Council here in Orkney.

“World Environment Day is also about inspiring change and action – so we’ll be inviting people to create a Personal Plastic Pledge and share it with us. We’ll post the best ideas on social media, and all entries will go into a prize draw to win a bag of goodies including alternatives to single-use plastics.”

The team will be at Tesco on World Environment Day, 5 June, between 10:00 and 15:00 where members can enter a pledge or talk to the team about how to reduce, reuse or recycle plastic.

Pledges can also be submitted via the Council’s Eco Active Orkney Facebook page or by emailing recycling@orkney.gov.uk .