Plastic Free July: small swaps and where to refill locally
10 July 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
July is Plastic Free July, the global campaign encouraging everyday choices that cut plastic waste — and Richmond upon Thames is marking it with practical local resources worth bookmarking.
The council's tips cover reducing single-use plastic at home, on the go and in the community: choosing reusable containers, finding local refill options, and understanding what can and cannot go in the recycling box. In Richmond upon Thames, clean plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays are accepted kerbside, but carrier bags, crisp packets, bubble wrap, polystyrene and plastic toys should not go in the recycling — they need to be taken to a recycling point or reuse hub.
For Barnes residents looking to go further, The Fixery is the borough's circular-living hub where you can swap, share and repair items, and refill household cleaning products at its on-site refill shop. The council is committed to phasing out single-use plastics across its own operations by 2030 as part of the London Councils' One World Living programme.
Even one or two swaps — a reusable coffee cup, a bar of soap instead of a plastic bottle — add up across a neighbourhood.
Read the council's full plastic-reduction tips and find out more about The Fixery.