Frome continues its war on plastic

FROME Town Council continues to lead a war against single use plastic with its own website offering advice on living plastic-free in the town.

The website covers a number of topics including why someone should live plastic-free; an extensive list of all the businesses in the town where you can shop plastic-free; where you can find access to free refills of tap water in the town; and how to be plastic-free on the move and in the home. 

Speaking to Frome Times, mayor cllr Richard Ackroyd said, “This is an excellent first step to making Frome a more environmentally friendly town.  We’ve all seen and read about the plastic waste problems faced across the world.  This new local website won’t solve all of the issues, but it is a definite starting point for how to reduce unwanted plastic in your shopping.  Think globally but start locally with this super helpful website – I urge everyone to take a look.”

The website is one of a number of initiatives launched by the town council since it first made the decision to go single-use plastic free in December 2017. 

Since the announcement, Frome has hit the headlines on a number of occasions with appearances on BBC Points West and BBC’s The One Show; the latter hailing Frome as a stand-out town trying to reduce the single-use plastic that is polluting our oceans and rivers.

Currently, the town council is waiting on accreditation as a ‘Plastic Free Community’ from Surfers Against Sewage, the marine conservation charity working with communities to protect oceans, waves, beaches and marine life. 

However work is still ongoing to engage the town. Marketing and communications manager for Frome Town Council told Frome Times, “A lot of the work has been done by the community and so broadly, we are pleased with the progress, however there is always more to do.”

• Local businesses in Frome are also doing their bit to help.  Oakville Care Centre, Badcox, offers a range of natural shampoo bars and soaps, using natural ingredients and no plastic. And web-based company, Live Without Plastic, sell a number of products including cardboard deodorants and no-tube fluoride chewable tablets for teeth cleaning. To visit the ‘plastic free Frome’ website, go to: www.plasticfreefrome.co.uk