MEMBERS of the Waste Action Group of Sustainable Crediton recently presented an award to Crediton Pet Shop to thank it for being environmentally friendly.

Katie Arthur, proprietor at Crediton Pet Shop, explained that rather than give out plastic bags and containers with pet food, bird seed and other items, she would welcome customers using their own reusable containers, including old milk cartons or similar.

Katie explained: “It is saving on plastic bag and container use. We go through so many plastic bags.

“I have advertised it on our ‘Facebook’ page and through word-of-mouth and many people now regularly bring in their own containers.

“The response has been amazing.”

Nancy Dowling, from the Waste Action Group, praised Katie for her initiative and said: “It is saving on plastic bags, of which there are far too many in the world and reducing the amount of single-use plastic bottles and containers.”

Katie added: “It is so easy to fill containers with weighed bird seed and it also works well with dog biscuits as well.”

Katie was presented with a Sustainable Crediton Local Community Hero Award certificate for encouraging customers to reuse plastic containers.

Nancy added that the Action Group would like to hear of how other local businesses and people are encouraging shoppers to change their habits and recycle and re-use.

Alan Quick