Get Drastic With Plastic: Scheme rustles up crisp packets

Amanda Crowley, a Coast Care volunteer from Swinhoe, and Michael Dawson, landlord of the Craster Arms in Beadnell, who are asking people to recycle empty crisp packets. Picture by Jane Coltman

Amanda Crowley, a Coast Care volunteer from Swinhoe, has teamed up with Michael Dawson, landlord of The Craster Arms at Beadnell, for a crisp packet recycling scheme.

A box has been put by the bar in the pub to collect empty crisp packets.

Another collection box is going outside for the summer season.

Amanda said: “The scheme has been running only a few weeks and already we have collected many, many packets.”

The empty packets are packed up and sent to TerraCycle, which collects and recycles almost any form of waste.

TerraCycle pays for the packets by weight and any money raised will go to British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

The Gazette’s Get Drastic With Plastic campaign aims to reduce single-use plastics.

We are seeing positive steps from the Government and many companies are committing to changing their packaging. But there are steps we can all take, including: Buy a refillable water bottle; buy a reusable coffee cup; say no to plastic straws; use paper-stemmed cotton buds; join a beach clean.