TOWN clerk Matthew Jackson is starting his morning with a welcome cuppa made from loose tea as Wilmslow Town Council seeks to reduce plastic use, in particular single use.

Replacing tea bags with loose tea, stopping using non-recyclable coffee pods and replacing Biros with refillable fountain pens are some of the changes the council is introducing.

It is also phasing out highlighter pens, going back to instant or coffee pots, replacing cable ties with string or multi-use, finding alternative packaging for milk, paint, varnish and weed killers and minimising the use of laminating pouches and bin bags.

The council is supporting Plastic Free Wilmslow, which aims to get businesses to reduce the number of single use plastics they use and reuse more, and has welcomed the council’s backing.

Andrew Backhouse from Plastic Free Wilmslow said: “It’s great that the town council is taking a lead on this – and we look forward to meeting more businesses and hearing about the steps they are taking.

“We want businesses to tell us that they have stopped using at least three plastic items.

“Sometimes it seems a very hard thing to do, so we are delighted that Wilmslow Town Council has taken a lead on this. Perhaps it will inspire you at work too?

“The town council agreed in February 2018 they were looking to support the campaign and reduce the use of plastic, in particular single use.

“They have audited all the things they use which are plastic, identified what can be replaced with non-plastic, reusable or recyclable items, and started the process of phasing out stocks they no longer feel appropriate to plastic-free status.”

Plastic Free Wilmslow aims to get individuals, community groups, schools and businesses reducing their plastic use and reusing more. It is working with Surfers against Sewage who started the national campaign.

To contact the campaign group email plasticfreewilmslow@gmail.com