Plastic Free Swindon coordinator Ben Bell on reuse and repair

A Swindon environmental campaigner called for less plastic to be made in the first place, in an interview published by Swindon24 on Tuesday 1 September 2026. Ben Bell had spent more than eight years with Plastic Free Swindon, the eco-campaign group he coordinates.

Beyond recycling

Mr Bell said the group's message goes further than recycling. "We need to reduce plastic production," he said. He added: "Recycling is not right for plastic pollution. We need to do better."

Old laptops given a second life

He also volunteers with Help Me IT, a free technology support group based at the Swindon Hub. It takes in unwanted technology, refurbishes old laptops and phones, and keeps them in use. Some refurbished laptops have gone to refugees who use the Hub.

"We take in donations, repair, refurbish," he said. "This is not waste. This is reducing waste."

People who come in for help also share their own skills over a cup of tea, he said.

What people can do

Mr Bell agreed, when asked, that the first two steps below were the kind of change he wanted to see:

• Buy fruit and vegetables from a local greengrocer.
• Avoid unnecessary plastic and use reusable bags.
• "Support local, independent, and organic," in Mr Bell's words. He said buying locally cuts packaging and food miles.

Mr Bell is also involved with Keep Swindon Tidy and Refill Swindon. Asked what the community could do, he said: "Get involved, spread information, positivity."

The article was written by Isis Jefferies.

Source: Swindon24.