Back in 2021, our Sustainable Consumerism group started a campaign to get Plastic-free status for Leek. Sally Perry has been beavering away at this, largely behind the scenes, but is now very close. Here’s an update from her:

Most of you will hopefully be aware that we need at least 12 businesses to become Plastic Free Champions and actively reduce their use of single use plastics, and 30 Community Allies who try to use less and encourage others to do so.

I am very pleased to let you know that we now have 11 businesses and 27 Allies!!   We are nearly there.   I am very keen to have a final push and if we could achieve Plastic Free Status for Leek before Christmas it would be amazing!!

If you own a business or work for someone locally, in ST13, and think you might like to become a Plastic Free Business Champion, please get in touch. Twelve is our target but I’m not stopping there!

Read more: Plastic Free Leek – Campaign Update

For those of you who don’t know, we've had Refill up and running in Leek for a few years now. We have around twenty businesses signed up.

Packaging, especially from takeaways, whatever it is made of, is a huge problem as we all know.

So, Refill encourages people to get refills of water, hot drinks, food etc. using their own bottles, cups and containers rather than new ones, thereby reducing packaging, especially plastic.

Businesses can sign up to Refill at no cost to themselves. They put a sticker or poster in their window letting people know they are happy to provide refills. This is important, not just to show they are signed up, but also because people are often reluctant to ask for refills, especially water, without feeling they have to buy something, so posters let them know they are welcome. Moreover, businesses often find they do get extra footfall due to being signed up and these people often do spend money with them. It also means businesses spend less on providing packaging. So, it’s win, win!

When we sign up a business, we add them to the free Refill App, which can be found on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Read more: Refill – A City to Sea Campaign

Following the success of our Winter Clothes Swap we have decided to hold another. A great way to add to your wardrobe for very little cost and help look after the environment as well. It’s a joint venture between the Youth Action and Sustainable Consumer groups, along with Trinity Church, and will be held on Saturday 20 May, 9.30am – 12.30pm.

We would like all kinds of clothes in good condition and books, CDs, games, etc. These can be brought on the day or we can arrange collection beforehand if necessary.

You can either just donate, just take or both!!   It is a free event, although donations would be gratefully received. Tell all your friends!

See you there.   Sally Perry

At the end of November 2022, we held our first ever clothes swap at Trinity Church in the Lower Hall. A joint venture between the Youth Engagement and Sustainable Consumer groups.    For a first attempt it was very successful.  We focused on warm clothes, given the time of year and the high cost of keeping our homes warm.  Alongside the clothes swap we offered people the chance to make their own draught excluder for £1.

Unlike a formal clothes swap, we didn’t mind if people just donated, just took clothes, or both.  The main aim was to help people obtain warm clothes and help the environment by not buying new.   People were very generous in their donations and a special thanks goes to Hannah Grimsey

Read more: Clothes Swish ‘n’ Swap

We have been making steady progress with Leek achieving Plastic Free Community status.  To do this we need to fulfil several requirements.   The Town Council have given us their full support and, so far, several local businesses have become Plastic Free Business Champions, reducing their use of plastic.   We also need allies.  These are organisations, clubs, churches, schools, etc. who pledge to try to reduce their plastic use and encourage others to do so too.

One of our allies is Trinity Church, here in Leek. 

Read more: Plastic Free Harvest Festival

Happy New Year Everyone,

I’m sure you have had a lot of stuff coming into your homes over Christmas (some wanted, some not!!), however hard you tried to keep it to a minimum. It’s probably time for a sort out. Fortunately nearly all items can be recycled, it's just a question of knowing where. I know it takes a bit of time and effort to sort items and then take them to the right place but it is important that they don’t go in general waste if they don’t have to.

This is just a reminder of  what things can be recycled locally and where.

Read more: Recycling Update