Caerphilly County Borough’s first ‘zero waste’ store has been officially opened in Caerphilly town centre.
Plant 2 Plate, located on Cardiff Road, has extended its organic, additive-free food range to include a refill shop, stocking products that contain no single use plastic.
Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers to refill on washing up liquid and hand sanitizer, as well as stocking paper straws and reusable food wrapping, herbs and spices sold by weight and even double length toilet role in sustainable packaging.
Claire Lukins, who had previously catered out of her home in Machen before opening the store in February 2015, told Caerphilly Observer that the store is a positive start, but part of a bigger goal.
Ms Lukins said: “The goal is for Caerphilly to become a plastic free town. Now that we have this store to show what can be done, we are going to encourage other businesses in the town to also reduce their single use plastic.
“Things like replacing plastic straws with paper straws and using compostable cups, are little changes that make a big difference.
“People sometimes see recycling and reducing waste as something other people do, but if we can become plastic free, everybody else can.”
The move to open Caerphilly’s first ‘zero waste’ store has come alongside a grassroots plastic free movement in the town. A Facebook group of over 160 members has already organised local meetings and begun campaigning for other stores in the town to reduce their single-use plastics.
Other businesses and venues that have already made strides to reduce their waste include Tyfu Cafe, the Old Library, The Visitor Centre and Vegan Box in Caerphilly Indoor Market.
Activists are aiming for Caerphilly to become one of Wales’ Plastic Free Communities, an initiative set up and accredited by UK charity Surfers Against Sewage.
There are currently five Plastic Free Communities in Wales, with Chepstow gaining its accreditation in June.
Wayne David MP welcomed the opening of Caerphilly’s first zero waste store, and said: “It was a real pleasure to visit the new Caerphilly zero waste shop.
“I am a keen supporter of all initiatives which could help Caerphilly achieve plastic free status and hopefully this marks another significant step in reaching that milestone.”
• Earlier this month, a Freedom of Information request by Plaid Cymru revealed that Caerphilly County Borough Council ordered more than 116,000 single-use plastic items between April 1 and July 26.
Items included 26,000 plastic forks in schools across the authority and 4,000 disposable cups in the council’s staff restaurant.
Councillor Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid Group in Caerphilly, said: “It is important that the council sets a lead in the county borough. Many organisations are now setting target dates for ending single use plastic food and drinks containers and that’s what I want the authority to do.”
Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services said: “We have set up a working group to undertake a number of activities to minimise the use of single use plastic.
“This includes procurement contracts stipulating the use of recyclable materials in products from our suppliers and refining our catering services to reduce the amount of single use products.”