Abingdon has been awarded ‘Plastic Free Communities’ Status as it takes action on Single-Use Plastic.

Abingdon has joined a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source. Abingdon is the 65th Community to be awarded Plastic Free status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to starting to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on the environment. (The picture was taken at Added Ingredients where people can refill containers with detergents and washing liquids

as well as coffee ground on the premises, and a large variety of teas.)

Local Leads Anne Smart and Caroline Townsend started the campaign last year due to rising concern about the amount of damage being done by plastic pollution, particularly to our marine environment and wildlife.

Abingdon Cuts Plastic is a sub-group of the longstanding environmental group Abingdon Carbon Cutters.

Anne says: ‘Our Town Council officially supports our initiatives, and many sectors of the community are doing their best to reduce the amount of single-use plastic they use. Our MP, Layla Moran, is actively supporting our efforts to reduce the amount of plastic packaging used by local supermarkets.’

Eight local schools have joined our campaign, and we are encouraging others.

In October and April, Abingdon Cuts Plastic teamed up with Kingfisher canoe club and the litter-picking group AbiBinit, to hold two big river and riverbank clean-ups, which were well supported by lots of volunteers.