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Write to your Councillors


If you care about taking action on plastic, writing to your Councillors can be effective in bringing about the change we need. Sheffield City Council should hear from their residents about their concern for single-use plastic and plastic pollution.

Head to Write to Them (www.writetothem.com), put in your postcode and send an email to your Councillors. We’ve provided a template email below but the more it is customised by you, the more effective it will be.

Template email

Dear Councillor [Surname],

I am a resident of Sheffield and I am writing to raise concerns about the impact of single-use plastics and plastic pollution on the River Don and Sheffield’s wider network of rivers and streams.

Plastic litter is increasingly visible along the River Don and its tributaries, particularly after periods of heavy rain. Much of this consists of single-use packaging, which is easily washed from streets and bins into the river system. Once in the water, plastic persists for decades, harms wildlife, and breaks down into microplastics that contaminate sediments and freshwater ecosystems.

Local rivers are a vital part of Sheffield’s natural environment, flood resilience, and regeneration efforts. Plastic pollution undermines work to improve water quality, protect biodiversity, and encourage residents and visitors to enjoy these spaces safely. Evidence also shows that microplastics are now widespread in freshwater environments and can enter the food chain, raising longer-term environmental and public health concerns.

I would like to ask what steps Sheffield City Council is currently taking to reduce plastic pollution entering the River Don and other local waterways, and whether further action is being considered. In particular, I would welcome leadership in areas such as:

  • Reducing single-use plastics in council operations, events, and procurement
  • Preventing plastic litter at source through improved bin provision and street waste management near rivers
  • Supporting reuse and refill schemes with local businesses, especially in areas close to waterways
  • Working with schools, community groups, and environmental organisations to reduce plastic waste and support clean-up and prevention initiatives

While river clean-ups are valuable, evidence shows that prevention and reuse are far more effective than dealing with pollution after it has entered the environment. Reducing unnecessary single-use plastics would also support Sheffield’s wider climate and sustainability commitments.

Thank you for your time and for your work on behalf of Sheffield residents. I would appreciate any information you can share about current or planned actions in this area.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your postcode]

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