AS public support grows for the UK to do everything it can to reduce the use of plastics, Redditch Council has been challenged to go plastic free.

At a recent meeting with the leader of Redditch Borough Council, councillor Bill Hartnett, and chief executive, Kevin Dicks, Redditch MP Rachel Maclean urged the Borough Council to become a plastic free council.

The MP has already committed her office to becoming plastic free, with members of her team already eliminating the use of single-use plastics, after campaign group Eco n Wise approached her with what it had been doing and challenged her to make a plastic audit of her office, and look towards becoming as plastic free as possible.

The shocking images of plastic waste in our oceans shown during Blue Planet II has galvanised public support for the Government to do more to end the scourge of plastic waste.

And the Government is taking action by introducing a 25-year plan to improve the environment which commits the Government to work to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste over its lifetime.

All consumer single use plastics will be removed from central Government estate offices, and uptake of the highly successful 5p plastic bag charge extended to small retailers.

Businesses will be supported to offer new, free refill points for water bottles to be topped up, and work with retailers will explore introducing plastic-free supermarket aisles, where all the food is loose.

The 25-year plan will make it easier for people to recycle, using existing systems as well as new research into measures to reduce littering and promote recycling of drinks containers.

The Government has also confirmed it will introduce a deposit return scheme in England for single use drinks containers (whether plastic, glass or metal), which will be subject to consultation later this year.

Mrs Maclean said: “We all need to play our part in helping to end the scourge of plastic waste which is blighting our oceans.

“I’ve committed my office to becoming plastic free, and the Government has vowed to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste too, so I’m now calling on Redditch Borough Council to join us and go plastic free."

She added: “We can’t expect residents to follow us if we don’t lead by example."