TWO cafes at Llangrannog are spearheading a new plastic and packaging reduction scheme launched in Ceredigion

The scheme is being introduced by Ceredigion County Council’s conservation and waste management teams, together with the Welsh voluntary environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy.

It has been set up with funding from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), in an attempt to both raise awareness and to try to reduce the increasing amount of plastic that makes its way into the marine environment.

The aim is to encourage businesses, particularly cafes and take away outlets, but also other organisations including schools to rethink their plastic use and to reduce both their packaging and plastic use.

The scheme has various accreditation certificates which are distributed to businesses depending on the actions that have been taken.

The first accreditation certificates have been awarded to the owners of ‘The Beach Hut’ and ‘Caffi Patio’ in Llangrannog. Both cafés are committed to reducing their packaging, providing sustainable packaging, not offering single use sauce sachets and providing customers with free water re-fills.

Melanie Heath, Cardigan Bay marine protected area officer, said: “We piloted a marine litter reduction project in Llangrannog in 2016, in collaboration with Keep Wales Tidy.

“This pilot project was a success and as a result we have now received funding from NRW to roll out an accreditation scheme to encourage businesses and other organisations throughout Ceredigion to reduce both their plastic and packaging use.”

Linda Ashton, from NRW, said: “Cardigan Bay is a Special Area of Conservation that is home to a rich variety of marine plants and animals like harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and grey seals. It’s also a great place for people to visit and enjoy the outdoors.

“It’s fantastic to see projects like this that help more people learn about the marine environment and encourage long-term behaviour change that will help reduce the amount of plastic waste in Wales.”

For more information or to apply for the accreditation award CONTACT melanie.heath2@ceredigion.gov.uk or Alison.Heal@ceredigion.gov.uk