A CRACKDOWN on the use of polystyrene and single use plastics by takeaway businesses in Monmouthshire was launched by schoolchildren.

Last week pupils at Cantref Primary School in Abergavenny showed their support of fish and chip shop The Codfather, which is leading the way in cutting the use of such packaging.

The school and its eco-committee acheived the Eco-Schools Platinum Green Flag due to their proactive and passionate advocacy for reducing their environemntal impact and help the wider community.

The Codfather in Frogmore Street have switched to cardboard chip trays and wooden forks instead of polystyrene and plastic.

“From the beginning, my wife and I have always made sure that we do our best to recycle as much as possible,” said owner Andrew Ewers.

“We have very loyal customers and the response from them has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We are very proud of the fish that we sell in our shops but the fish on which we depend can only thrive in plastic-free oceans - that’s why we are keen to play our part in this initiative.”

Mr Ewers will be applying the same practice at his other shop Frydays, in Underhill Crescent.

Monmouthshire County Council will be contacting all food takeaways in the county to take similar measures.

Taxpayers in Wales in spend around £8 million a year clearing up litter, according to a council spokesman.

Despite this, fast food litter is more noticeable in Monmouthshire’s villages, towns and on countryside roads than ever before.

Cllr Bryan Jones, cabinet member for Waste and Recycling said: “We have all become more aware of the problems of single use plastics and polystyrene, particularly the devastating effect it has on our oceans, shown graphically in programmes like Blue Planet.

“Sadly, much of this plastic pollution comes from the land. Litter is all too often blown into grass verges and hedgerows, then into streams and rivers that flow out to sea.

“Thanks to its residents, Monmouthshire has been at the top of the recycling league table. Now it’s time though to turn our attention to the epidemic of non-recyclable single use plastic and polystyrene litter blighting our beautiful landscape.”