Happy Bundays on Plastic.....
The Skipton Happy Bundays WI has been involved in a conversation about plastics for a couple of years now. We support and follow Plastic Free Skipton, and encourage refilling and re-using. Many members use either our local refill store at Steep and Filter, Otley Street, Skipton, or the 'Little Green Footprints' refill stall at Skipton Market.
We have had discussions about single-use plastics and micro-plastics. Some of our guest speakers this year (Jo Moseley aka Healthy Happy 50, Plastic Free Skipton and Surfers against Sewage) have talked to us about plastic pollution and their visits have promoted interest amongst our members.
The National Federation of WIs has had many successful resolutions (or campaigns) over the years (think 'Keep Britain Tidy').
In 2017 a resolution was passed at the Annual Meeting to 'End Plastic Soup'.
The WI website states that "microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5mm. A major source of microplastic pollution is from synthetic fibres, which are small strands of plastic that come loose from clothing in the washing cycle. As they are too small to be caught by washing machine filters and the sewage system, they end up in the sea and wider environment.
Due to their small sizes they can ingested by aquatic life, posing a health risk to them. Microplastics are also entering the food chain, the long term effects of which are unknown."
Visit https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns-and-initiatives/end-plastic-soup for more info.
We asked members for their top tips on cutting down on unnecessary plastic single usage . The obvious are on the posters below but members also suggested ...
use waxed paper or fabric for food wrapping...no more clingfilm
take a bag to pick litter on family days out
use a mooncup
use the brand of loo rolls that are made from bamboo and come wrapped in paper...
use bars of soap rather than shower gel, or refill your bottles
credit Alexandra Case via Green Dream Foundation
credit www.lessplastic.co.uk
credit @ecowithem
