A PLASTIC-FREE event was held in front of a packed audience at Aberystwyth bandstand.

Organised by the Plastic Free Aberystwyth group and Aber Food Surplus, the evening celebrated the town’s plastic-free status and awarded businesses who have supported the scheme and changed or removed single-use plastics from their business.

Surplus food was provided by Aber Food Surplus, two ocean films were showed along with Eurig Salisbury performing a poem he had written for the evening, and music was provided by local band Three Legg’d Mare.

Around 100 attendees were asked to think about their own single-use plastic usage, and ideas were presented to tackle the plastic problem, for example, a plastic hub in Aberystwyth where beach-collected plastic could be recycled locally, a plastic-free shop, drinking water refill fountains around the town and a town-wide reusable coffee cup scheme.

Organiser of the event, Chris Woodfield said: “It was great to have so many people there showing support for the initiative and now the challenge is the engage with more businesses which I am really looking forward to, as well as asking members of the public to be role models and make positive change within their own homes and lifestyles.”

The Plastic Free Aberystwyth initiative also raises awareness of what members of the public can do including avoiding unnecessary single-use plastics such as plastic bottled water, plastic bags and single-use coffee cups.

The group has produced a 10-step guide to plastic-free living.

In addition, the group are asking members of the public to go plastic-free for July as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s Plastic Free July Challenge campaign.

In collaboration with Aber Food Surplus there will be a Plastic Free Craft Workshop tomorrow at St Paul’s Methodist Church from 10.30am to 2pm, as well as a Pay As You Feel three-course lunch from 12pm.

The workshop will explore making your own plastic-free cling-film wrap alternatives and kitchen products.

The group are always looking for new people to get involved and new ideas, if you are interested contact Chris Woodfield at [email protected] or Plastic Free Aberystwyth on Facebook.

For more information, visit www.mcsuk.org/plastic-challenge