Southern Water has launched a plastics policy to help ensure the company, its employees, suppliers and customers reduce plastic waste wherever possible.
Southern Water treats more than 700 million litres of wastewater every day, much of which is laden with items such as wet wipes, sanitary products and cotton buds. Last year, the company removed almost 9,000 tons of this type material at its sites across the region. As well as these large items, wastewater also contains plastic microfibres from clothing and tiny particles of plastic.
The first of its kind for a water company, the wide-ranging policy includes:
- Carrying out an audit of its plastic use and setting targets for reduction
- Working with its supply chain on reducing plastics and increasing recycling rates
- Cutting out single use plastics in its offices and operations, wherever possible
- Helping promote water bottle refill schemes across its region to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles
- Expanding its Unflushables campaign to highlight the environmental impact of plastic waste
- Funding academic studies into the removal and recycling of plastic waste
Launching the policy, Ian McAulay, Southern Water CEO, said that the plastics policy demonstrated the company's commitment to reducing plastic waste in offices and operations and encouraging customers to make some simple changes in their lives too. Every business also had a responsibility to minimise its reliance on single-use plastics.
He added:
"As a water company, we also have a unique opportunity at our treatment works to intervene and prevent plastics from entering the environment. The policy is the first step in a long and potentially complex journey for us but we’re proud to take a leading role in helping tackle this global issue.”
Southern Water is also exploring techniques for removing microplastics and finding new ways of recycling and reusing them.
The company is funding academic studies into microplastics with Southampton University. It has also set up an innovation hub with the University of Portsmouth at its Petersfield wastewater treatment works where innovative treatment techniques, including the removal of microplastics, are being explored.
Click here to read Southern Water plastics policy
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