News on Surrey's Greener Future

This month is Plastic Free July, to mark the occasion we have put together 10 top tips focused on small steps you can take to reduce plastic waste. Every year, Plastic Free July gives us an opportunity to think about the plastic waste we generate and reflect on how we can make a change.

The impacts of plastic pollution

Plastic does not break down naturally in the environment, causing pollution that can lead to variety of impacts on humans and wildlife.

In Surrey we are lucky as we are the most wooded county in England. We have a variety of different habitats, including heathlands and chalk grasslands of international importance. These habitats provide the ideal conditions for many different plant and animal species; however, plastic pollution can cause harm to Surrey’s wildlife.

Wild animals can become trapped or injured by plastic litter, also if they mistake plastic items for food this can cause injury, or ultimately death.

As plastic is not biodegradable, when it eventually starts to break down it becomes tiny fragments, known as microplastics. These fragments make their way into our waterways and are so small that they can be ingested by both humans and animals without our knowledge.

The best way to reduce these impacts is to avoid using plastic products where possible, but if this can’t be avoided – ensure your plastic waste is managed in the correct way.

Ten tips to reduce plastic waste:

1. Make sure you recycle your plastic waste correctly – Recycling is extremely important, but it must be done correctly to maximise the impact. Find out what types of waste you can recycle at home and in your local area on the Recycle Now website. Recycling Locator | Recycle Now

2. Avoid products that contain plastic and consider reusable alternatives – reusable alternatives have less of an impact compared to single-use plastic and can often be cheaper in the long run.

3. Use a reusable water bottle or coffee cup – Investing in a reusable drink container is a great way to cut your plastic use and to save money as well.

4. Use reusable food containers – Use reusable containers like Tupperware to store your food, instead of food sold in single-use plastic.

5. Carry reusable shopping bags - Try using a foldaway bag that you can carry in your normal day bag and use when shopping.

6. Buy from local markets and low-waste shops - Consider buying food from local markets and low-waste shops as they will often allow you to bring your own container to reduce packaging waste.

7. Make your own plastic-free snacks – Try and avoid pre-packaged snacks as the plastic packaging can soon add up.

8. Shop in bulk quantities - Buying larger quantities of your shopping can help reduce plastic waste. But make sure to buy only what you need to avoid unnecessary waste from buying too much.

9. Reuse cleaning products in reusable bottles – Try out the concentrated refill tablets instead of buying a new bottle each time you run out. You could also try and make some DIY cleaning products out of household items, like vinegar and baking soda.

10. Make your laundry routine zero waste – Choose a laundry detergent that can be refilled with a reusable container to cut down on the number of plastic laundry detergent bottles entering the environment each year.

These tips are just a few pieces of inspiration of how you can get involved and make a difference this Plastic Free July, check out their website to find out more: Plastic Free July – Be Part of the Plastic Pollution Solution