The PlastiCity project is finding out and working with organisations around the borough to help them reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.

As part of this, the PlastiCity team in Southend is visiting over 300 local businesses and schools. They will be looking at the plastics that pass through these organisations and will be helping them to find ways to reduce single-use plastics, as well as improve plastic recycling. Eventually, they hope to develop a local “circular economy” where schools and businesses work together to keep plastic products and materials which are not recyclable in use by utilising them in alternative ways.

The PlastiCity team would like to learn what motivates businesses and schools to recycle plastic and what demotivates them from doing so. If you are based in or around Southend and you would like to help the team with this or would like one of the PlastiCity consultants to visit your business, please email them at PlastiCity@Southend.gov.uk, giving details of what it is you do.

Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “The global amount of plastic not being recycled is totally unacceptable and a strategic approach to educate and support businesses and schools in the recycling of commercial and industrial plastics is a big step in the right direction.

“It is a great opportunity for them to become actively involved in learning more about the consequences of not recycling plastics properly and improve their own recycling rates.

“Locally, we know more can be done. It gives me great pride that we’re the only UK town involved in this project and with the University of Portsmouth assisting with research, I am sure we can inspire schools and businesses to get involved and focus on keeping future generations safe and well.”