The 100,000 carrier bags given out by Wembley greengrocers each week and 160,000 disposable cups used at each Wembley Stadium event are among the targets of a new plastic-free campaign.

The project by Wembley Traders Association and In Your Face Advertising is being officially launched alongside Brent Council on November 15.

Wembley is the borough’s most visited area, with huge events taking place at the stadium and arena on a regular basis.

The campaign aims to reduce plastic use in the ward by 15 per cent by 2020, in time for the European Championships and the celebration of Brent as the London Borough of Culture.

Martin Gaugan, of Wembley Traders, said: “We’re trying to promote it at the moment and distributing free [non-plastic] cups and bags. We are also in talks with Wembley Stadium and hotels and the London Design Outlet. We had a meeting with residents and they are supporting us.”

Francis Henry, who runs Daniels Estate Agents, has already ditched plastic cups in favour of biodegradable alternatives.

He said: “We pledge not to use plastic cups in our offices ever again. Especially now biodegradable alternatives are readily available there really is no excuse not to.”

Polylactic acid (PLA) cups, vegetable starch refuse sacks and “eco media boxes” (an alternative carrier bag) are being handed out to greengrocers and bars piloting the scheme.

It is hoped the compostable and 100 per cent biodegradable items, made from plants such as corn, cassava and sugar cane, are taken up by all retailers and businesses across the town centre.

Brent Council’s environment chief Cllr Krupa Sheth said: “We’re committed to doing what we can locally to help this greater issue. Through this innovative project we are hoping to significantly change the amount of plastic waste across the town centre, especially at larger sites such as Wembley Stadium and Wembley Park Drive, where the number of plastic cups used on one single event day averages 160,000.”

Follow the campaign on Instagram (pfwembley), Twitter (@pfwembley and the hashtag #PlasticFreeWembley) and Facebook (Plastic Free Wembley).