A new group wants to help Dunfermline become Scotland’s first plastic-free town.
Plastic-Free Dunfermline began life as a Facebook page nine months ago.
Created for people and families to share ideas to reduce single-use plastic, the page now has more than 1,300 followers.
It aims to raise awareness of single-use plastic pollution and its impact on health and the environment as well as promoting the reduction, re-use and repair of single-use plastics. Progress is already being made.
On Monday Café Wynd became the first business to receive a plastic free champion award because of its commitment to cutting its amount of single-use plastic.
The title comes as part of the national Plastic Free Communities campaign run by conservation charity Surfers against Sewage and promoted locally by Plastic-Free Dunfermline.
It is given out when a business eliminates at least three single-use plastic items.
Stewart and Lynva Forrest, who own Café Wynd, have worked hard to cut the waste since opening in February.
So far, they have started used refillable sauce bottles, salt and pepper grinders and glass sugar containers.
There are also free tap water refills available, vegware lunch boxes and coffee cups, wooden cutlery and paper bags for takeaways and resealable tubs and coffee jars which are sent back to the supplier for re-use.
Lynva said: “Once you pay attention to single-use plastic it becomes very hard to ignore the problem and almost addictive trying to find simple solutions to avoid its use.
“Community groups like Plastic-Free Dunfermline are a great place to get ideas on how to reduce, re-use and recycle.”
The café owners face a challenge to persuade suppliers to deliver fresh meat, fruit and vegetables without using plastic.
Plastic Free Dunfermline founder James Daw said: “We want to shine a light on businesses who are making an effort to reduce their plastic usage.
“It is well known that the public are now choosing to shop with businesses who have an environmental conscience and are reducing their plastic consumption.”
Mr Daw added the group will work hard to make Dunfermline one of the first towns in Scotland to be awarded plastic-free status following the framework run by Surfers Against Sewage.
“We hope to harness the energy, enthusiasm and commitment of local people who care about the environment, to help us engage with local schools, businesses, community groups, Fife Council and members of the public to eliminate unnecessary single use plastic.”
