People across the Vale are signing up to Plastic Free July – hoping to make a bit of difference to a growing problem for the environment.

The village of Leigh has recently formed a climate emergency group, which is encouraging villagers to do what they can. The group has used recycled cotton to make shopping bags which they have filled with useful products, including toilet paper, plastic-free cleaning samples and bags for loose fruit and veg, as well as information leaflets and suggestions. They handed them out at the village market to everyone who signed up to their cause.

Lucy Barfoot, who runs Coconut & Cotton in Shaftesbury, is also promoting the initiative. She said: “The pandemic has been a trying time in the effort to reduce single use plastic. Understandably taking care of human health is critical, but at the same there is an opportunity to reduce plastic waste and increase reuse and recycling efforts.”

“Most supermarkets have options for loose fruit and vegetables which is an easy way to avoid the plastic wrap. Or even better, support a small local greengrocer or zero waste shop! According to the World Health Organisation there is no evidence of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food or food packaging. The best advice is to thoroughly wash hands with soap when preparing fruit and vegetables and to rinse fresh produce with water just before you eat it.”

Find out more at plasticfreejuly.org.

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