Case study, Impact, Top Tips Posted — 18 October 2024
UK’s Smallest City Goes Plastic Free
Plastic Free St Davids began as a passionate group of people tackling environmental issues locally. They formed a group, EcoDewi, and then Jeremy Wadia, signed up as the SAS Community Lead. Through Plastic Free Communities, they started their journey to fight back against plastic pollution and help stop its production, for good.
The reaction from the community was fantastic. We did manage to squeeze in one get together before Covid lockdown, in the upstairs of a local cafe. We’d arranged two guest speakers and didn’t know if it would be just the five us of there. But around 40 people showed up. It was fantastic and there was a real buzz in the room.
Jeremy Wadia, Community Lead for Plastic Free St Davids
Using the five step Plastic Free Communities toolkit, Plastic Free St Davids got going on tackling plastic pollution at source, and encouraging their whole community to get on board. They set about working with their local council, businesses and local organisations to help spread the plastic free message.
Local businesses are the driving force behind plastic reduction locally. Some businesses in St Davids have also become Community Allies to the campaign, with MamGu Welshcakes manager, Laura, being a real support in speaking at events and encouraging other businesses to get involved. Another business, Smorgasboard Café, gained not one but two awards in a year. Achieving their Silver Award and working on other ways to reduce their environmental impact.
The whole team at Plastic Free Davids has found working on a campaign like this really brings people together. Many people helped create a ‘Beach Cleans and Plastic Free Community’ theme float at St Davids Carnival. The float was covered with some of litter, primarily plastic, that were collected from local beaches (the weirdest item they’ve found on the clean … a Blonde Wig)
Whilst some people might wonder why we bother at a local level, when it is a national and global issue. We strongly believe that each of us trying to reduce our reliance on single-use plastic adds up and hopefully inspires others to do more. As St David said, “do the little things that you have heard and seen me do” or “Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’.
Jeremy Wadia
Now St Davids, is not only the smallest city in the UK but is the first in Peninsula to gain the award. Jeremy and team are now looking to next challenge – to get two more communities the award, and create a local network all working towards the same goal. To unite and fire up individuals, businesses and local organisations to fight back against throwaway plastic.
For St Davids, they plan to continue work with new businesses and allies, and support existing businesses to go for the next level of award.
We’d love to get more refill stations across the area for all the visitors, in particular when they come to walk the coastal path and visit the beaches. An aspiration would be that St Davids shops don’t sell drinking water in plastic bottles but only cans and glass!
Plastic Free St Davids
Are you fed up of the scale of plastic pollution and the impact it has on your community?
Check out all the info on the Plastic Free Communities campaign and how you can join our nationwide movement to end plastic pollution.
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