MINISTERS are taking the steps to become ‘plastic-free’ in parliament, to the delight of environmental groups and movements in Bude.

It has been confirmed that the administration committee is to review its use of disposable plastics in the Commons, with a report detailing the outcome of the review expected to be published some time in March.

Sir Peter Beresford, the chairman of the administration committee, reportedly told Labour MP Mary Creagh, chair of the environmental audit committee, that the review would take place after learning that over a million disposable coffee cups were used in the Commons in 2017.

This movement follows after ReFILL Bude’s reusable coffee cups were sent to MPs, with environment secretary Michael Gove leading the way in showing off his coffee cup on the way to 10 Downing Street recently. Since then, numerous other MPs have been spotted with their ReFILL Bude cups, sent to them by A Greener Bude, a new organisation in Bude hoping to put an end to plastic pollution in the seaside town.

Led by ReFILL Bude founder, Deb Rosser, and Bude Cleaner Seas Project’s Avril Sainsbury, A Greener Bude is just one of the many environmental movements based in Bude that are leading the way in fighting the plastic pollution crisis that is affecting marine life and the world’s oceans.

Following recommendations made to all public sector bodies in the environmental audits committee’s report, ‘Plastic Bottles: Turning back the plastic tide’, the House Service is currently reviewing the sustainability and environmental management of single use disposable plastics in the House of Commons.

A paper is due to be submitted for discussion at the administration committee in March, outlining the initiatives that can be taken forward to reduce the consumption of single use disposable plastics on the estate and increase recycling rates of all waste materials.

A House of Commons spokesperson said: “The House of Commons is committed to reducing the amount of waste across the parliamentary estate including plastic and operate a mixed recycling scheme to ensure as much as possible of our waste is recycled.”

Founder of ReFILL Bude, Deb Rosser, who established the scheme with BeachCare, thinks the review of disposable plastics being used in the Commons is positive to the campaign.

“This is a follow up from the ReFILL cups being sent to Michael Gove and MPs at parliament, and I think it’s fantastic that the decision makers of the country are taking this seriously,” she told the Post. “We’ve obviously known about the problem surrounding plastic pollution for years and years, and by applying lots of pressure and lobbying ministers, I think it’s fantastic that we’re finally seeing a move forward.

“It’s the small changes that are contributing to the plastic message. It’s all about making these small changes, and working together, we now need to focus on getting manufacturers and supermarkets to ask the question, ‘is plastic really necessary?’”

Deb commented on the excessive use of plastic on fresh produce items for sale in supermarkets, such as fruit and vegetables. “It’s such a crazy single use plastic item, and it’s never going to go away.”

As well as working as a teacher at a local school in Bude, Deb also dedicates much of her time to picking up litter from her nearby beach of Crooklets. She said: “We picked up three bags full of plastic on our beach clean at the weekend, so we are taking it out of the ocean and off the beaches, which is a positive thing. But the plastic does break up into tiny pieces, which the fish are ingesting, and which we are then ingesting in our food chain.”

Many environmental groups and plastic-tackling organisations have been produced in Bude. As well as ReFILL, Bude Cleaner Seas Project and A Greener Bude, various beach clean groups, set up with BeachCare, such as Widemouth Task Force and the Crackington Crew, are also fighting the plastic crisis. A new organisation, The Happy Turtle Company, which is encouraging the disuse of single use plastics, also has a lot in the pipeline.

Deb said: “In Bude, we are championing the message to become plastic free. We’re not just reducing our use of plastic in Bude, but we are part of a much bigger and targeting a much wider area.

“I have been in contact with Bude-Stratton Town Council, and have put some proposals forward to them, which they will be considering. It’s about helping each other reduce our use of single use plastics — and we’re not just looking at single use, we’re looking at everything.”