ABERYSTWYTH University has become the first in the world to be awarded Plastic Free University status.

The award has been made by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage as part of its Plastic Free Communities campaign.

The campaign focuses on reducing the use of plastic items that are used only once before being thrown away, such as plastic bottles, coffee cups and lids, bags, cutlery, straws and stirrers.

While there are still some single-use plastic items within the university, the scheme recognises the great work being done to reduce their use and the institution’s ongoing commitment.

Rebecca Davies, pro vice-chancellor and chief operating officer at Aberystwyth University, said: “The worldwide challenge of reducing plastic pollution can not be underestimated. Around 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally every year, with approximately half destined for single use items.

"In addition, around eight million pieces of plastic find their way into our oceans every day, which are often mistaken by fish, whales, dolphins, turtles, seabirds and seals for food.

"As a coastal university, these issues are close to our heart and the challenge for us as an institution and as individuals is to look at how we can continue to reduce single-use plastic, for the benefit of the environment.”

Aberystwyth University set up a Plastic Free Working Group in March to lead the phasing out of single-use plastic on campus. Initiatives already agreed include:

• A 15p levy on all plastic disposable cups from 1 September 2018 to encourage coffee and tea drinkers to use reuseable cups.

• Biodegradable salad containers and compostable hot food boxes introduced for takeaway food in catering outlets, along with biodegradable cutlery and straws, with all available to be taken away in paper rather than plastic bags.

• Free water dispensers installed at nine of the university’s cafés and restaurants to help promote the use of reusable water bottles.

The university’s plastic-free team are now working on additional ways of reducing single-use plastic.

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