FIFTEEN businesses in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge have been recognised for their work in removing single use plastics from their businesses with a special award. 

At a Burnham and Highbridge town projects committee meeting on Monday (January 21) Burnham and Highbridge mayor Cllr Bill Hancock presented certificates and wooden plaques to representatives from businesses across the towns which had qualified as Plastic Free Champions.

To achieve the accolade each business  had to eliminate at least three different types of single use plastic such as plastic straws and stirrers, cutlery, glasses and cups from their business and replace them with non-plastic alternatives.

In Burnham, The Round Tower Guest House, the Victoria Hotel, the Princess Theatre and Arts Centre, Burrs and Gardiner Whites were among the businesses to win the award.   And in Highbridge Maisey's Bakery, The Boathouse Café, Rob's Fish Bar and Sopha also picked up awards.   Tatiana Cant, town clerk of Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, said: "Plastic Free Businesses are an important part of the Plastic Free Community campaign organised nationally by the Surfers Against Sewage group.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg and we really hope that these businesses will inspire others to get on board with reducing their use of plastics.”

In addition to their plastic free work, Litter Free Coast & Sea Somerset are running a Business Award Scheme to encourage businesses to consider their full environmental footprint and make changes in their waste arrangements and the products they use to minimise harm to the environment and we can help you to find alternative materials and suppliers."

Tanya Cox, coastal communities officer for Litter Free Coast and Sea said her team was speaking to a number of businesses in Burnham and Highbridge.

She said: “This is a great step forward for Burnham and Highbridge. I would like to encourage other local businesses to contact us to find out how we can help you.

"Many of the changes your business can make are kinder on the environment and will not actually cost you any more financially.”