A litter pick to tackle wind blown plastic bags in Holyhead was completed recently after residents complained to the Isle of Anglesey County Council waste section. A large bramble hedge at Penrhos, Holyhead near the Morrisons store was tidied and all windblown litter removed.
“Following a complaint from a local resident we have removed litter and plastic bags from the hedges at Penrhos. In addition we have spent the day in Morrisons talking to shoppers about reusable shopping bags with the full support of the Morrisons team. People today have been very enthusiastic about remembering reusable shopping bags, which is great,” said Lois Roberts, Isle of Anglesey County Council Island’ Tidy Towns Officer.
With the introduction of the single-use carrier bag charge throughout Wales in October 2011 there has been a fall in the number of bags issued at tills with more shoppers bringing reusable bags with them when they shop.
“If more shoppers bring reusable bags with them we will reduce the number of single-use plastic which could become rubbish. Hopefully following the tidy up here in Holyhead we will see a reduction in single-use plastic bags littering our ‘green island’,” said Lois.
Working in partnership for the litter pick and clean up in Holyhead with the Waste Management Section at Isle of Anglesey County Council were: Biffa, Keep Wales Tidy, Plas Cybi, Staff from Morissons Holyhead, Taith i Waith / New Work Connections Project and Tidy Towns.
“We encourage all our customers to reuse plastic bags but would also like to see shoppers trying our recently launched ‘Bag For Life’. All money generated by the charge for our single-use carrier bags goes to our charity of the year, ‘Save the Children’. We have been very pleased to support the litter pick and encourage our customers to remember their reusable shopping bags,” said Tony Hughes, Store Manager, Morrisons Holyhead.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the day especially Morrisons. Many single-use plastic bags end up as rubbish. We simply cannot continue wasting our valuable resources in this way. Hopefully following the litter pick and tidy of the area we will see a decrease in windblown rubbish and we can keep Anglesey clean and green,” said Cllr Raymond Jones, London Road, Holyhead.
