Plastic-free initiative group plans to help firms ‘make the switch’
By Maurice Garvey
A GROUP of residents want businesses in Lucan to switch from single-use plastics to compostables.
Plastic Free Lucan Initiative was formed in March following a public meeting organised by People Before Profit member Kellie Sweeney.
Jared Bradley, Aideen Byrne, Kellie Sweeney (People Before Profit), and Lauren Bradley
Ms Sweeney, says the group “want to educate individuals, groups and businesses about the consequences of single-use plastic.”
“We are surveying local people about their thoughts on single-use plastics and are presenting this to the local businesses and national chains, expressing the demand we’ve surveyed for alternatives to single-use plastic.”
She said they plan to incentivise businesses through free advertising and “encourage our supporters to support these businesses.”
“We will also be giving businesses a sticker/poster to put in their window to show they are working towards being plastic-free.”
“Cllr Madeline Johansson also got a motion passed in the council for us. We are trying to push through an environmental rating system for local businesses, similar to a hygiene rating system.
We want to see a ‘score card’ for businesses to see how environmentally friendly their business is.”
“Local schools have been doing great work teaching children about the problems related to plastics and a lot of people are making efforts to reduce their own consumption of plastics.
Now it’s time for businesses to show a willingness to tackle this problem and stop supplying it.”
The group are hosting a documentary about plastic pollution on August 29 at Lucan Library (6-8pm), and plan to host monthly meetings.
TAGS Lucan
