County Durham’s efforts to ditch single use plastics have earned a national award.

Durham County Council’s single use plastics pledge scooped the Best Waste Minimisation or Prevention Project award at the LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee) annual awards.

The awards are the only national dedicated awards for waste and recycling. Judges praised the council’s efforts to get more people, businesses and schools, from across the county to decrease their use of single use plastics and raise awareness about the harm they do.

Almost 200 businesses, individuals, schools, nurseries, and community groups have signed the pledge since it was launched in March this year. People across the county are pledging to get rid of plastic straws, switching to reusable coffee cups, making their own baby wipes and bring their own shopping bags to stores.

By encouraging staff to sign up and be more proactive, the council has seen its employees get on board and make simple, yet effective, changes such as swapping plastic drinking cups at water coolers for biodegradable ones.

Judges commended the authority for leading by example and highlighted leisure centre staff, who have launched a campaign to ban plastic overshoes, the Gala Theatre pantomime, which no longer uses plastic confetti, and the council’s catering teams, who now widely encourage the sale and use of reusable cups for hot drinks in its shops and canteens.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We are delighted to receive recognition for this fantastic initiative pooling the efforts of not just one organisation, but several, all working towards a common cause.

“Even Easington-born Matt Baker, from BBC’s The One Show, signed up to do his bit when one of our schools went on the show to talk about their plastic-free journey.

“We know that residents, business and schools are keen to get involved to reduce waste and we will support them every step of the way.”

Find out more about the pledge and how to sign up at https://www.durham.gov.uk/singleuseplastics