LE MARCHE PLASTIC FREE
Le Marche, a central italian region, is becoming plastic free. After several strikes and protests, the mayors and universities of the Le Marche in Italy have started several initiatives to make the region plastic free and more environmentally friendly.
THE ANCONA’ MAYOR WON A PRIZE
Valeria Mancinelli, the mayor of Ancona, has passed a law to make her city and the surrounding area plastic free. This law forbids the use of plates, cutlery, cups and drinking straws made of non-biodegradable plastics in the beaches and ports of Ancona. It will be forbidden to distribute these items in any kind of establishment that sells food and beverages, including restaurants, catering businesses, and events (such as strikes, festivals and wine tasting). This law, as well as other measures the Marche is taking, should help the region become much more plastic free and respectful of the environment. Thanks to these great policies, Valeria Mancinelli won the World Mayor Prize, which makes her the best mayor in the world for a year. The committee said that her policies “have instigated outstanding and long-lasting improvements” to her community.
BEACHES OF ANCONA PLASTIC FREE
Among the beaches of Ancona, the beach of Portonovo has been the quickest to follow this law. The bars and restaurants of this area have already started buying recyclable and biodegradable plastics. They plan to keep using non-biodegradable items until they run out, and then switch to the environmentally friendly materials when the law comes in effect.
BUSINESSES ENVIROMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Many businesses have taken extra steps to be more environmentally friendly. For example, a restaurant on the seaside has built a water fountain where people can refill their water bottles instead of buying new ones. Other business have installed compactors, machines that recycle plastic bottles and metal cans. Clients get one eco point for every bottle or can put in the compactors. They can then spend eco points in shops and restaurants to save money. Additionally, some bars on the beach require clients to pay an extra fee for every cocktail they order; this fee is returned if the client brings back the plastic cup to be recycled. This aims to make the beaches and sea cleaner and it goes along with the cleaning day organised by Surfrider Foundation Europe. On this day, people collect garbage from the beaches and coasts.
FRITTO MISTO OF ASCOLI PICENO
This year, the 15th edition of the Fritto Misto festival will take place in Ascoli Piceno. This event is all about eating delicious Italian fried food. However, this year’s edition will be the first plastic free one. This festival will use dishes, cups and cutlery made of compostable materials such as Mater-Bi, PLA and cellulose. These decay easily and don’t pollute the environment. Also, the frying oil for cooking will be collected after the event and recycled into new materials.
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF LE MARCHE
The polytechnic university of the Marche has also taken some measures to reduce the amount of plastic waste. It has started giving its students water canteens for free to reduce the use of plastic bottles. Also, the university has started placing more water dispensers without plastic cups in offices and public areas. Finally, they have replaced plastic cups with cardboard ones in many coffee machines.
Overall, the Marche region of Italy has started many initiatives to become plastic free and less damaging to the environment. The mayor of Ancona, restaurants and bars on the seaside of Ancona, festivals and events and even the polytechnic university of the Marche have taken steps to reduce their use of plastics and to recycle more.
