Axminster Nub News is proud to have signed up as a Community Ally of Plastic Free Axminster.

Nub News has pledged to support Plastic Free Axminster in its campaign to rid the town of avoidable single-use plastic, which is polluting our green spaces, rivers and beaches.

By taking the Plastic Free Pledge, we have committed to removing single-use plastic items from our day to day activities, include our stance on single-use plastic in our communications, and raise awareness and support for plastic free initiatives in the community.

We'll be doing this through continued coverage of Plastic Free Axminster's events and campaigns, including their regular litter picks, and they will also be providing our readers with a monthly eco or recycling tip, to help them cut down on single-use plastic too!

Francesca Evans, editor at Axminster Nub News, said: "We are lucky to live and work is such a beautiful part of the country, and we feel strongly that we should all play our part in trying to protect that – so we're proud to be a Community Ally of Plastic Free Axminster."

Axminster Nub News – part of a national network of hyperlocal news websites across the UK – was launched in May 2020 and is edited by Francesca and her father, veteran local journalist Philip Evans MBE.

Their office is based in Lyme Regis, where they also run the LymeOnline website and fortnightly newspaper.

"We have a very small office and, as our business is largely online and newspaper based, we don't produce a huge amount of plastic waste," said Francesca.

"However, we are already looking at ways to cut down on plastics or to recycle them in the best way we can.

"Our main plastic waste is made up of printer ink cartridges and their packaging. We are already recycling our used ink cartridges with a local Rotary Club, which helps them raise funds for local and national charities, and we are looking into the best way of disposing of the packaging or cartridges that come in alternative packaging.

"We are also trying to make personal decisions that cut down on single-use plastic waste in our office. For example, we have our own reusable water bottles and coffee cups rather than buying disposable ones."

"If everyone takes small steps like these, we can make a big difference.

"We're really looking forward to working with Plastic Free Axminster and reading their monthly tips to help us all make better decisions for the future of our planet."

Plastic Free Axminster, which was launched in 2019, is currently looking for more businesses and local organisations to to the Plastic Free Pledge in the Axminster area, including the surrounding parish. This will include a plastic audit to see where they can cut down on using single-use plastic.

Those signing up to support the campaign will help Axminster achieve Plastic Free Community status from the national charity Surfers Against Sewage.

The group is also looking for more volunteers to help with events.

Those interested can email [email protected] or you can find out more on the Plastic Free Axminster Facebook page.