A range of actions to reduce single plastic use is to be introduced by Falkirk Council with immediate effect (25 September) in a bid to reduce to harmful impact on wildlife, marine life and the wider environment.

The agreement will see Falkirk Council stop buying specific plastic items, look at alternative products and continue to reuse wherever possible plastic materials they already have.

Single use plastic can include any disposable plastic items which are designed to be used only once.

Falkirk Council has drawn up a number of actions it is taking to deal with the problem including:

•          Stopping all purchases of drinking straws and stirrers (paper straws will be available in exceptional circumstances)
•          Removal of plastic cups and use of reusable containers promoted
•          Alternatives to plastic plates and cutlery to be sourced from other suppliers
•          ‘Polypockets’ no longer purchased, with stocks re-used and digital storage encouraged
•          Alternative food storage containers such as pasta, fruit and salad pots to be sourced

If you wish to be actively involved in removing single use plastics, a staff group has been established to support the elimination of single use plastic within the workplace. The group is titled SUPER “Single Use Plastic Environmental Reduction” and can be contacted via John Kirkhope.