DELYN’S MS is encouraging constituents to get involved in Plastic Free July and help reduce the amount of plastic we use in our day to day lives.

Beginning in 2011 “Plastic Free July” is a global campaign initiated by The Plastic Free Foundation to encourage the world’s population to change their habits around use of plastic in order to protect the environment.

In recent years, Wales has proven to be world leading in it’s recycling efforts, with the best rates in the UK.

At the start of the month-long campaign, Ms Blythyn said: “We have seen some amazing work done locally in Flintshire, and indeed in Wales, but we still have to come together and do more. There are plenty of different ways that each of us can make small, simple changes to become more environmentally friendly and use less single use plastic.”

In 2018-19 Flintshire County Council had recycling rates of 69 per cent, putting them in the top three across all 22 local authorities in Wales.

Local authorities are key to ensuring that the Welsh Government achieve their target of being one of the best recycling nations in the world by 2050, through boosting the amount of waste that gets recycled.

Many plastics can only be used once such as straws, takeaway containers or drinks bottles, which means that instead of being recycled they are sent to landfill. With more and more businesses becoming environmentally minded, there are lots of alternatives such as reusable coffee cups and water bottles, which reduce the need for single use plastics.

There is plenty of best practice in making our communities more environmentally friendly across Flintshire, from town council efforts to becoming plastic free, to Surfers Against Sewage awards being given to local community groups and businesses in the Mold area.

Throughout July, the Member of the Senedd will be using her social media platforms to share environmental achievements across Flintshire, and provide suggestions on how people can take their own action to reduce their use of unnecessary plastic.

Ms Blythyn added: “Every little action we take adds up to make a larger collective difference. There is lots to be proud of locally and so I will be using my social media to promote good news stories from across Flintshire, and encouraging others to try new things to reduce their use of unnecessary plastic.”

To find out more information about the Plastic Free July campaign, go to www.plasticfreejuly.org.