EFFORTS to make Barry ‘plastic-free’ are continuing across the town.

Barry mum Aoife Blight, of ZeroWasteCardiff, launched an appeal earlier this year to make Barry a plastic free town.

Mrs Blight said she wanted Barry to become Wales’ first ‘plastic free’ town after she won the BBC’s Let’s Get A Good Thing Going contest to establish a #2minutebeachclean board to help clean up at Whitmore Bay, Barry Island.

Penzance, Cornwall, became the first UK town to be granted ‘plastic free’ status at the end of last year, as part of a campaign run by conservation charity Surfers against Sewage.

While ‘plastic free’ status does not require eradicating plastic entirely, it does mean a concerted effort by traders and local residents to reduce the use of single-use plastics and to minimise plastic litter entering the seas.

Mrs Blight said: “It basically means asking local businesses to take a look at their packaging and what they provide.

“It’s going to have to be more than just me, but Twitter has been an incredible tool for connecting with people and showing just how many people are interested in it,” said Mrs Blight.

She said: “Six months ago I was the crazy plastic lady but now people are saying it’s good sense. We want people to be conscious of what they are doing with their plastic use.”

Since then Jones Dairies in Dock View Road announced their return to glass bottles and other small independent businesses have also introduced measures to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

High Street butcher Vic Hopkins & Son stocks glass bottles of milk supplied by Jones Dairies and Marshalls butchers, of Holton Road, is using greaseproof paper instead of plastic bags.

Both butchers are encouraging customers to bring in clean, re-usable, plastic containers in which to take away their meat.

Marco’s Café, Barry Island, has ditched plastic straws and utensils and High Street’s Cwtch and Food For Thought deli have joined the plastic revolt by no longer using the plastic-lined drink cups and cutlery.

Fay Blakeley, of Homemade