THE city could take its first step towards eradicating the use of environmentally-damaging plastic such as straws and cups with a ban on the material in Oxford City Council buildings.

Oxford Green Party leader, city councillor Craig Simmons, has backed a proposal that all ‘unnecessary’ use of single use plastics is phased out in an effort to make the council more environmentally friendly.

It is hoped other businesses would be encouraged to follow the council's lead, drastically cutting back on the amount of plastic used and thrown away.

Street traders must already use recyclable takeaway boxes, after the council agreed to phase out single-use ones in April 2015.

Mr Simmons said he was hoping residents would be ‘galvanised’ to change and follow the council’s lead if councillors back the motion.

He said: “It is trying to mirror what’s been done in Brighton, which we think is admirable: to cut out the single use of plastic.

"A lot of it finds itself in the ocean and the idea is to try to stimulate the market for alternatives.”

“There’s obviously a history and people have got used to the convenience.

"We are looking for the city to set an example.”

The Greens' motion, which will be heard at a council meeting on Monday, also calls for the city council to set up a ‘plastic free network’ to provide businesses with support and practical advice about how to switch from environmentally-damaging materials to more sustainable alternatives.

Councillors will also be urged to ask staff and visitors to bring in their own drinking containers in an effort to ditch plastic cups.

It looks likely to get the backing from the council after the local authority's leader gave it his support.

Bob Price said: “I think it’s something we’re in favour of. We do encourage the use of non-plastic things in our own facilities; we have got recycleable items at the council.”

Recent footage on BBC's Blue Planet showed the devastating effect plastic can have on ocean life when it makes its way into the sea.

Brighton-based designer Claire Potter has spearheaded that city’s Plastic Free Pledge, initially in an effort to scrap the use of plastic straws across the town and replace them with something less environmentally damaging.

She said: “You use a straw for 20 minutes but it could last up for 600 years.

“We wanted to do something with a proactive response and we found that people wanted to do a good thing, just they didn’t know how.”

The Plastic Free Pledge already has more than 60 backers despite only launching in March.

The campaign has now gone nationwide with chains Jamie’s Italian, which has a restaurant on George Street in Oxford, and Bluebird Tea Co. also signed up.