100 signatures reached
To: Chesterfield Borough Council
Reduce single-use plastic waste in Chesterfield
Plastic Free Chesterfield are calling on the council to:
- Lead by example and remove single-use plastic items from their premises.
- Encourage plastic-free initiatives, promote the Plastic Free Communities campaign and support events.
- Appoint a representative of the council onto the Plastic Free Community steering group.
Why is this important?
In 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that by weight, there could be more plastic in our oceans than fish, as soon as 2050.
Plastics are durable, strong and long-lasting – all positive elements until you realise that they will stay in our environment for up to an estimated 600 years. (Columbia University)
Over 300 million tons of new plastic are made every year – half of which is for single use plastic, such as packaging and convenience foods. In many cases, such as plastic straws, takeaway food containers and coffee cups, there are practical alternatives available that are either reusable or sustainable.
It is estimated that there are over 5.5 trillion pieces of plastic currently in our global ocean and over 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into our seas each year. This equates to one refuse truck FULL of plastic every minute.
Marine plastic leads to coastal / offshore dead zones, entanglement, death through ingestion, toxic transfer and, once degraded into microplastics, contamination of the food chain – including our own. We are quite literally eating the plastic that has ended up in our seas.
Sign this petition so we can persuade the council to act on the issue of single-use plastic waste.
*Image credit Ed Fordham taken at Chesterfield Borough Council, June 2019
How it will be delivered
Once the petition reaches 1,000 signatures from Chesterfield Borough Council residents, this petition will be handed in and it will trigger a debate by the full council.
