Members of Abingdon Cuts Plastic, part of Abingdon Carbon Cutters, were in the Market Place this Friday encouraging people to take part in Plastic Free July by making a simple pledge to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

Visitors were invited to choose one small change to make. Suggestions included carrying a reusable water bottle or coffee cup, buying fruit and vegetables loose rather than wrapped in plastic, or swapping cling film for reusable containers.

Other ideas included trying shampoo bars, choosing paper-wrapped toilet rolls, using refill stations for household cleaning products and switching to plastic-free tea bags or loose tea leaves.

The group highlighted that household cleaners such as washing-up liquid, laundry liquid and toilet cleaner can be refilled locally at the refill station at Oxford Wood Recycling.

The aim is to reduce plastic waste and keep unnecessary plastic out of rivers, seas and the wider environment. If you look at the campaign website ( https://abingdoncarboncutters.org.uk/what/abingdon-cuts-plastic/ ) you will see it was first launched in 2018, thanks to Anne Smart, and they are giving it a new push. There is an up to date 2026 Plastics leaflet under the campaign website.