Single-Use Disposable BBQs: September Update
From the start of 2024, we set out with an ambitious campaign: Remove Single-Use Disposable BBQs from Sale in Bude. Thanks to your support and belief in this campaign, we have made tremendous strides toward that goal. Here are some of the highlights:
- Milestone 1: Raising Awareness with Residents, Businesses and Visitors. Through targeted pop-up events across the Bude area, and multiple digital channels we pushed to eliminate these harmful beach products from Bude’s beaches. We held 12 pop-ups at different locations, spending over 24 hours engaging with the public, and reached over 8000 social media users.
- Milestone 2: Collaboration and Research. We connected with other counties leading the charge on removing single-use disposable BBQs from sale – Litter Free Dorset.We partnered with Cornwall Council Trading Standards to tackle Bar-Be-Quick, a major UK supplier of harmful single-use disposable BBQs, to discuss our concerns on what we refer to as “greenwashing” labelling terms on their products.
- Milestone 3: Partnership and Influence. Bude Sainsbury’s store committed to remove all single-use disposable BBQs from sale. Being the closest supermarket to Bude’s coastline, this will have had a huge impact on the number of single-use deposable BBQs brought onto our beaches during 2024.
The Problem:
Wastefulness: Disposable BBQs are single-use items that waste valuable resources such as paper, wood, plastic, aluminium, and steel.
Safety Hazards: When placed on sand, disposable BBQs can cause serious burns long after being removed. This is a significant concern for our town beaches. Additionally, they contribute to bin fires every year in Bude. In the last month alone we have seen 2 serious fires in Cornwall alone, one of which destroyed an emergency services telephone line at Perranuthnoe beach, known locally as Perran Sands.
Physical Dangers: Disposable BBQs have sharp edges, which, if left on the beach or buried in the sand, can lead to injuries.
Ethical Concerns: Many disposable BBQs are imported from countries with poor human rights records and unsustainable practices, leading to a higher environmental impact.
The Progress:
Since May 2024, we have been actively working to address the environmental issues posed by single-use disposable BBQs in Bude. We reached out to all of Bude’s supermarkets, seeking to engage in positive discussions about the impact of these products. Our efforts have also included connecting with local businesses and the Bude community through our pop-up events and social media campaigns.
Morrisons supermarket are sadly not willing to make any changes at store level this year. Their Sustainability team at Morrisons head office have also been non-committal about removing from the store plan for 2025. This is understandably disappointing given that Sainsbury’s has been positively reactive to the issues raised at a community-level. Added to the announcement that Lidl made the move to ban the sale of single-use disposable BBQs from 2024 onwards.
Sadly we’re placing B&M & The Co-Op on our BAD list. Despite lots of attempts to engage with them, they have not responded to us and will continue to sell these harmful products.
We recently met with BAR-Be-Quick, the manufacturer of single-use disposable BBQs, and Cornwall Council’s trading standards team to express our concerns about the labelling of these products. It was encouraging to hear about the steps BAR-Be-Quick is taking to improve their labelling terms, which should reflect changes by 2025 to address potential greenwashing claims. Cornwall Council’s trading standards team has been eager to partner with us in this effort.
We’re also in discussions with the National Trust, who are keen to support our campaign to remove these harmful BBQs from Bude’s beaches and areas of natural beauty. Together, we’re making strides toward a cleaner, safer environment for all.
The Challenge:
One of our biggest challenges is that Cornwall Council does not provide public recycling bins, which complicates matters when disposable BBQs are labeled as “fully recyclable.” In reality, beachgoers often abandon or dispose of these BBQs in general rubbish bins, preventing them from being properly recycled.
Our Action:
While we understand the income they generate, we believe there are better alternatives—such as locally sourced charcoal and reusable BBQs, which are readily available. Even better, we encourage everyone to consider taking a picnic to the beach instead!
Individuals keen to support this cause can contribute directly by signing our PETITION: Remove single-use disposable BBQs from sale in Bude. Sign petition by (click HERE to sign).