A BANGOR councillor is continuing to campaign nationally to reduce the use of plastic in Gwynedd.

Elin Walker Jones, from Bangor, started her national campaign back in the autumn to tackle the problem of polystyrene in communities.

Her calls for a tax on polystyrene were heard at the National Assembly in January.

Now, the Plaid Cymru councillor is asking for support at the full meeting of Gwynedd Council, on Thursday, March 1, St David's Day, to call for the Welsh Government to take urgent action on single use plastics in Wales and to consider raising a plastics tax.

She will also be taking part in the big 'Spring Clean' litter pick event being held in Bangor, on Saturday, March 3.

Councillor Walker Jones said: "I have regular calls and complaints in my Ward in Eithinog, Bangor of litter and plastic problems in specific areas. This is an issue that is a responsibility for us all, of all ages and all backgrounds.

“That's the reason why we’ve organised a 'Spring Clean' in Bangor gathering teams of people from the community to clear ??rubbish. From making small changes we can create a big difference to our communities.

She added: “I am very proud of the work of that Plaid Cymru’s team has achieved after I first called for a tax on a polystyrene.

"The message was heard at the National Assembly in January after Plaid Cymru's amendment to introduce a duty on single use plastic goods was passed to reduce the amount of pollution in the sea and the environment.”

Plastic pollution is a huge environmental problem that threatens marine life and other animals.

“I take pride in the fact that we are acting innovatively in Wales and led the way in charging for single use carrier bags before any other country in the UK."

"But we can do more by putting a charge on single use plastic such as coffee cups that can not be recycled. We once lived without all the plastic that surrounds us, we can live without it again.

One Gwynedd business that now uses recycled products is Gwesty T? Newydd in Aberdaron, Pen Ll?n.

Owner, Iain Roberts said: “Since the beginning of the year, we have eliminated the use of plastic straws at the hotel as part of a campaign in Ll?n called “The Last Straw.”

“We now stock Dyffryn Nantlle’s Pant Du glass bottled water and have stopped using plastic water bottles in the rooms. Our coffee cupsfrom Dwyfor Coffee in Nefyn have now been switched to recycled sugar cane cups."