Make our City plastic bag free say Lib Dems. (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Make our City plastic bag free say Lib Dems.

December 7, 2007 12:00 AM

Liverpool Lib Dems are calling for more action to reduce packaging and stop the unnecessary use of plastic bags. A motion from Church ward Councillor, Richard Kemp and Executive Member Berni Turner has been submitted to the next meeting of the City Council (12th December)

The motion reads:

This Council seeks to support and encourage retailers, businesses and commercial manufacturers to reduce excessive packaging, in particular the widespread use of plastic bags.

This Council notes with concern the excessive levels of packaging used by manufacturers and retailers, accounting for 4.6 million tonnes of household waste every year and 17 per cent of the average household food budget; commends the recent campaign against excessive packaging run by the Independent newspaper; and urges supermarkets to reduce where possible packaging on goods sold, encourage the re-use of plastic bags, recycle packaging waste and encourage suppliers to reduce packaging further up the supply chain.

Council notes that London Councils are considering the promotion of a Parliamentary Bill to stop the sale of plastic bags in supermarkets.

Council requests the Leader of the Council to consider approaching the Chief Executives of London Councils with a view to Liverpool either providing London Councils with support for such a Bill or Liverpool becoming a co-Council for such a Bill with a view to similarly immediately ending the sale of plastic bags in our City.

This Council notes that:

Annually an estimated total of around 17½ billion plastic bags are handed out by supermarkets in the UK.

A plastic bag can take between 400 to 1,000 years to break down in the environment.

The reduction of the amount of plastic bags produced by supermarkets and convenience stores would therefore make a significant contribution to Liverpool City Council's ability to meet its waste reduction targets, and would protect our environment.

This Council therefore requests that the Leader of the Council:

requests the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Environment, requesting that the Government commissions a report on the options for reductions in plastic bag use, to include an assessment of the effects of levy on plastic bags.

Works with local community groups to encourage retailers to reduce their use of plastic bags, replacing them where necessary with reusable bags made from natural fibres or strong paper, and with cardboard boxes or cartons.

Works towards Liverpool becoming a plastic bag free City.

Council also requests that the Leader of the Council considers producing a Parliamentary Bill that would: -

Ensure that all retail premises above 2,000 sq ft should have a place inside and close to cash tills where customers could un-package their goods to allow for the retailer to become responsible for its disposal.

Ensure that all retail outlets provide facilities where customers can return packaging bought in that place to be disposed of by and at the expense of the retailer.

Council further requests to circulate this resolution to all Councils in England with a responsibility for Waste Collection with a view to garnering their support for such a Bill.

More information about City Council meetings is available at www.liverpool.gov.uk