We can now celebrate the  Roseland Peninsular joining the ranks of plastic-free coastlines and communities across Cornwall and the rest of the country.

• A small team of volunteers has worked hard to help encourage businesses to meet the targets laid down by Surfers Against Sewage to achieve the award.
• Almost all the food and drink businesses on the Roseland have removed or replaced at least three pieces of single-use plastic from their premises.
• Volunteers have been out talking to other businesses, schools, community groups and parish councils to highlight the challenges of plastic pollution in the area and encourage their involvement.

The Plastic Free Community network was set up by St Agnes charity, Surfers Against Sewage, to tackle avoidable single-use plastic, from the beach all the way back to the brands and businesses who create it.  So far, 645 communities around the UK, both inland and coastal, have signed up to the initiative.  As part of the initiative, Chris Townsend and a group of experienced beach cleaners, have set up a regular community beach clean at Summers Beach in St Mawes.  An accommodation note has been sent out to holiday cottage companies, and placed in the welcome packs in houses and cottages, encouraging holidaymakers to help look after the environment.

Last year, volunteers from Plastic Free Roseland attended meetings of all five parish councils and after highlighting the challenges of plastic pollution, and were promised their support.  Volunteer, Chris Giles, who lives in Veryan, worked closely with the parish council to have a tap installed outside the public toilets so walkers and other visitors to the village are able to refill their water bottles. Taps are also planned for the other villages in prominent places.

Recently a trial of monthly visits by the Incredible Bulk has been arranged to allow residents to purchase a wide range of food, cleaning products and other items directly into their own containers.

Having achieved the Plastic Free Status, the group are now working alongside Roseland Environmental Action Team (REACT) to continue to encourage plastic reduction activities in the future.

REACT was set up following the parish councils declaring a climate change emergency to progress practical activities to reduce our carbon footprint (including use of plastic) and support improving our environment in the Roseland.

For more information, please visit the Plastic Free Roseland page on Facebook, or Instagram, or contact amanda.harley@mac.com