A DELEGATION from South Korea has visited Chepstow to learn more about how it has become a plastic free town.

Led by Professor Wonkil Jeong of Daegu Haany University in South Korea, the group of three local government officials from Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Ulleung Island County had heard about the efforts Chepstow has made to reduce the use of single-use plastic and wanted to find out how it was done.

They were particularly interested in learning from the town to see if there were any approaches that could be used in Ulleung Island.

The island, which has just over 10,000 inhabitants, is a tourist destination, and conserving both the marine and island environment is a major concern for local government.

The visitors met the Chepstow mayor Cllr Tom Kirton, town clerk Lucy Allen, Plastic Free Chesptow co-ordinator Graham Eele, and Sue Parkinson, waste and recycling education and awareness officer from Monmouthshire County Council.

Professor Jeong has been studying plastic free movements in many countries and his team was particularly keen to see how a community-led initiative could work in the Korean context.

While the local government on Ulleung Island is keen to reduce the impact of plastic on the land and marine environment, they recognise the need to involve local people.

Professor Jeong said: “We think we have quite a lot in common with a community like Chepstow and we have learnt a lot about how to get the local community involved in the plastic-free movement.

“We would like to maintain contact between Chepstow and Ulleung Island County and to explore the possibility of exchanging experiences.”

Cllr Kirton suggested: “Twinning Ulleung Island and Chepstow could be a great way to facilitate this further friendship and exchange.”

Graham Eele, who helped to arrange the visit, added: “It is very encouraging to find that our efforts to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in Chepstow have been recognised globally.”