How to be a plastics activist in Bristol

For those in Bristol looking to tackle plastics in the home and around the city, here are some suggestions for being a plastic activist with local initiatives.

The problem with plastics as it has been said many times is that ‘every piece of plastic that has ever been made still exists’ and much of it ends up as litter causing harm to wildlife and natural habitats, so taking action at all levels is essential.

Plastics found on the Avon riverbanks in Bristol. Photo credit: Michelle Cassar

If you are wondering where to start in your own home, Stacey Fordham from Zero Green in Bedminster recommends taking a look in your bin and seeing what are the most prevalent waste items, then starting with one or two items at a time. She say’s “it’s important not to give yourself a hard time”, and Michelle from City to Sea, recommends “keeping a tally on the fridge of items you have changed or refused (like straws, coffee cup lids and plastic bags) so you can see how you are getting on”. When you are out shopping, Lucy Gatward at Better Food recommends that you can even “give fruit punnets back at the till and put fruit into a reusable bag”.

Zero Green in Bedminster, just one of the ‘loose shopping’ places in Bristol

Luckily in Bristol there are many shops that can help you reduce your plastic footprint, as they sell loose dried goods such as Better Foods, Scoopaway, Chi Wholefoods, Southville Deli, Holland & Barret, and of course independent vegetable shops and veg box schemes reduce packaged vegetable purchases. Cllr. Martin Fodor pointed out that you “don’t have to buy lots of equipment or special containers to live with less plastic. You can use old jars for storage and you can take an old margarine container along to go loose shopping”. In fact, the Zero Green shop has a container library if you forget one yourself or you want to donate containers to.

Just some of the containers available in the container library at Zero Green, Bedminster

According to Recoup, of the 35 million sold, 16 million plastic bottles aren’t recycled each day in the UK, with many ending up as litter. In Bristol, the monthly Clean up Bristol Harbour events and the Bristol Harbour Wildlife both confirmed that plastic bottle litter was a massive problem in the Harbour.

This is why adopting the habit of carrying a reusable water bottle is really important. And of course, as Bristol was the birthplace of the Refill movement there are plenty of cafes, bars, shops and businesses where you can ask for a free refill of tap water. Whilst, this may sound like a simple act, it is really important for disrupting the social dominance of bottled water and creating a new social norm where it is acceptable to ask for free water.

Don’t be afraid to ask for free water especially the Refill sticker.

Previous research by Thames Water’s London on Tap Campaign identified that “one in five consumers were nervous about asking for tap water when dining out”. So be a pioneer and carry your reusable bottle with pride, looking out for the blue refill stickers or downloading the app to find your next water top-up. You can also sign up venues through the app too. And Refill isn’t just a Bristol initiative since the campaign got nationwide funding over 12,000 refill points have signed up in the UK and the City to Sea team behind Refill are working on international plans as we speak.

Carry a reusable bottle with pride to inspire others

There are other practical activities to get involved in, such as the previously mentioned Clean Up Bristol Harbour events, which happen once a month, people with boats, canoes and stand-up paddle boards are always very welcome.

The monthly Cleanup Bristol Harbour events happen on land and boats

Or to highlight your dissatisfaction with plastic packaging, join the Plastic Attack movement who do organised events outside supermarkets (that they have notified in advance), asking customers to bring them their packaging so they can tally up the recycled and non-recycled content and give back to the supermarket. The next activation is on 15th September and they are asking people to do their own at a local store or join an existing one. One of the volunteer founders, Alex Morss, said “you only need two people for a couple of hours to engage hundreds of people”. The rules of engagement can be found on the Plastic Attack Facebook page. 

We can feel as individuals that we can’t make a difference against big corporations or Governments. However initiatives like Plastick Attack which started in Keynsham and have now gone global virally demonstrate that we all have agency and power for change. As Cllr. Martin Fodor pointed out “individuals can really make a difference through complaints on social media, withdrawing spending from companies we don’t agree with, writing to MP’s and pressuring Governments and corporations”.

Plastic being collected from customers during a Plastic Attack event

So now really is a great time to become a plastics activist, using your spending power, actions and voice. Don’t be afraid to talk to your local shops, cafes and businesses about addressing single-use plastics, both by requesting alternatives on the shelf, refusing disposables and taking along your reusables. As Mary Mead famously said “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”.

This article is part of a six month series on waste, investigating what is happening at a local and national level and where Bristol businesses and residents can get involved to make change.

Read up on how Plastics Campaigner Michelle Cassar has lived plastic a lot less for 10 years, visit: b247.staging.proword.press/lifestyle/environment/interview-plastics-campaigner-michelle-cassar/

Find out more about bio plastics and if they are the solution to plastic pollution, visit:b247.staging.proword.press/lifestyle/environment/oxy-degradable-and-compostable-plastics/