The plastic bottles, bags and takeaway containers that we use for just a few minutes use a material that is designed to last forever.

Many of us have seen Blue Planet II with the amount of plastic in the sea and how much damage it does to marine wildlife.

These plastics break up, not break down – becoming permanent pollution. They end up in waterways and the ocean. Plastics attract persistant organic pollutants (POPs) which get eaten by bottom feeders, and get concentrated higher up the food chain. POPs are a small set of toxic chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods and accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals.

More than six out of 10 of us are already refusing plastic shopping bags, avoiding pre-packed fruit and veg and avoiding buying bottled water (as mentioned in Neil Laurenson’s Public Fountains article, April 9).

Unfortunately just switching to something else not made of plastic isn’t necessarily an improvement.

For example. the energy and water used to make cotton carrier bags is possibly a bigger problem than the one it is trying to solve.

Zero Waste Worcestershire is a new voluntary group which is not only about plastic but is aiming for zero waste across the county. One of its focuses is to help Worcester achieve Plastic Free Status as a city and is working with retailers, schools and community members to meet the objectives of this ambitious award.

You can help by:

l Avoiding products in plastic packaging

l Reducing where possible (opt for refills, remember your reusable shopping bags)

l Refusing plastics that escape as litter (e.g. straws, takeaway cups, utensils, balloons)

l Recycling what cannot be avoided