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Islanders are being urged to ditch single-use plastic this month as part of a global campaign "that dramatically reduces plastic use and improves recycling worldwide."
Local eco-warrior Sheena Brockie is hoping to convince islanders to #ChoosetoRefuse, so they can pick up lasting habits.
Sheena first brought the campaign to the island last summer and convinced local pubs and restaurants to say goodbye to plastic straws. Since then she has welcomed the Plastic Free challenge, developed by Surfers Against Sewage UK to tackle plastic pollution in coastal areas. She also featured in a video by local filmmaker Will Robinson about her plastic-free lifestyle.
According to Sheena, the main goal of Plastic Free July, which was launched two years ago in Australia, is awareness. "It's all about getting people aware of what plastics they use. Sometimes people use them and don't think about what happens afterwards, but there is not such a place as away, especially in Jersey.
"If people were to keep hold of all the plastics they use in a week, they would realise just as much it represents. Then they have to see how they can change that."
Video: Local filmmaker Will Robinson created a 15-minute documentary about Sheena.
Before launching into the campaign, islanders are invited to take a Pesky Plastics Quiz to discover how much plastics sneak into their shopping and set goals for themselves. Information from the quiz will also be collated as part of a research on the common plastics households use.
Some tips from the campaign include:
Stocking up on reusable alternatives to regular single-use plastic items, including coffee cups, sandwich wraps, and bags for shopping, produce, bread, bulk food and more.
Keep them somewhere handy.
Scope out bulk and wholefood stores in your area, so that you can avoid buying food or products packaged using single-use plastic.
Read through the Living Plastic Free resources to get a better understanding of what you should avoid throughout Plastic Free July, as well as helpful tips for doing so.
If you haven’t already, use the Action Picker to commit to what you want to choose to refuse this Plastic Free July
More tips are available on the Plastic Free Jersey website which features toolkits for households, businesses, schools, communities and events. People can also make commitments and share their success when they meet them.
Pictured: Islanders are invited to refuse plastic bags as part of Plastic Free July.
One of the first things islanders are invited to do as part of the campaign is to refuse plastic bags. A trillion plastic bags are used around the world each year and on average a plastic bag is used for only 12 minutes. As people’s awareness of single-use plastic increases, the Department for the Environment say they are keen to encourage different ways of doing things.
They argue there has been a big reduction in single-use plastic bags in Jersey since shops started charging for them nearly a year ago.
Deputy John Young, Minister for the Environment, said: “I’m looking forward to participating in discussions and I hope this month of focused activities will reduce Islanders’ reliance on single-use plastic. Jersey must continue the momentum started earlier this year, and a day to remind ourselves of the global nature of the problem will help focus our minds. I hope we can meet the Surfers Against Sewage criteria by the autumn, so we can be granted ‘Plastic Free Jersey’ status.”
Pictured: The Plastic Free Jersey team.
Throughout the month, Plastic Free Jersey will share more hints and tips on their Facebook page. They will also showcase local businesses that committed to the Plastic Free Jersey movement.
Sheena explained: "The biggest aim is for people to embrace the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' motto. Reducing is obviously the most important for Jersey as well as recycling as there are things we can't recycle here.
"We want people to be aware of the damage to the animals and try and get them to change their way. It is just a month to focus on their plastic use but I hope it becomes a habit for some."
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