Burnham and Highbridge Town Council has this week received an award from Litter Free Somerset in recognition of its work to reduce its environmental impact.
Staff at the Town Council offices in Jaycroft Road now use eco-friendly cleaning products, no longer use single-use plastic cups, and also separate waste and recycle where possible.
Litter Free Somerset presented the council with a Business Award this week, having provided advice on how the Town Council could improve its behaviour and work with it on an action list with guidance and ideas.
The Town Council has also adopted a new Green Charter which is a commitment to reducing environmental harm.
The Town Council has completed all of the three levels of the award and the Mayor, Cllr Bill Hancock, was this week handed the certificates by Chloé Walker-Panse of Litter Free Somerset.
This year, the Town Council also laid non-plastic poppy wreaths on Remembrance Sunday at the war memorials in both Highbridge and Burnham. Willow wreaths were decorated with poppies knitted from natural wool.
Cllr Hancock said:Â “This is a great achievement for the staff at the Town Council offices who have worked hard to introduce all these positive changes to help make the planet a better place for the next generation.”
“This is a great example to other businesses in the community and shows that a few small changes can make all the difference, and it’s not difficult to do and it doesn’t have to be expensive.”
“We are thrilled to be the second business in the town to receive these awards, hot on the heels of the Round Tower Guesthouse which has made an impressive number of improvements to their business practices. I hope there will be many more businesses following suit.”
Burnham’s Princess Theatre and Arts Centre, which is owned and managed by the Town Council, is also working through a similar Action List which is tailored to the theatre premises in Princess Street. They have already made good progress and are looking forward to receiving their awards soon.
The Town Council is also spearheading the towns’ contribution to the Plastic Free Communities Campaign and has been working with community groups to meet the five objectives needed.
This includes encouraging 12 businesses in Burnham and Highbridge to stop using 3 different items of Single Use Plastic (such as plastic straws, plates and cutlery) and replace these with an environmentally friendly material.
All of the businesses who make the switch, will be awarded with a certificate and wooden plaque.
Town Council Clerk Tatiana Cant remarked: “We are very keen to support the inspiring efforts of Surfers Against Sewage and to join the many other towns which have already become Plastic Free Communities.”
The Town Council will be submitting their application next week and looks forward to being able to announce soon that Burnham and Highbridge is a Plastic Free Community.
