History
Plastic Free Swindon was launched for Plastic Free July 2018 through Swindon Climate Action Network, a Friends of the Earth group. We grew the campaign until, in 2020, we became a standalone organisation. In 2024, we moved away from Friends of the Earth and signed up as one of Surfers Against Sewage's Plastic Free Communities.
Timeline
- July 2018 Plastic Free Swindon launch
- September 2018 Refill Swindon launch
- January 2020 Merged with Keep Swindon Tidy
- March 2022 Launched Growing South Swindon Community
- April 2022 Regular slot on the Birds and Bees show
- January 2024 Launched Swindon Community Computing
- January 2025 Signed up for Plastic Free Communities.
Aims
Our key aims are to help reduce plastic pollution in Swindon and work towards zero waste.
How do we get there?
Activities
- Engage with the public, schools and colleges, businesses, MPs / government, the borough and parish councils, and others.
- Website.
- Run and support campaigns and organisations.
- Attend events.
- Presentations.
- Research.
- Liase with media.
- Social media.
- Leaflets.
- Host and attend events.
- Resolve issues.
- Facilitation.
- Support.
- Collaboration.
- Provisions for inclusion / diversity / equality.
- Government lobbying (local and national).
- Attend council meetings.
Barriers to Change
Reducing plastic production / pollution has not proven to be easy! There are many obstacles to beware of, which we work to address.
Beware!
- Propaganda / misinformation / disinformation.
- Inequality.
- Government corruption.
- Capitalism.
- Inaction, overwhelm, apathy.
Be the Change
Our organisation doesn't discriminate. All of us can help reduce plastic pollution, setting a good example for others to follow. If we all do what we can, a greener, healthier, fairer world is possible.
Benefits
- Cleaner environment.
- Better health / less disease.
- Improve biodiversity.
- Meet climate targets.
- Reduced costs.
- Less anti-social behaviour such as crime.
- ...and many more!