PLASTIC TO BE BANNED
COUNCIL LOOKING AT LAWS TO STOP TAKEAWAYS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS - AND ITSELF - FROM HANDING OUT ‘SINGLE USE’ CUPS AND CUTLERY
PLASTIC cups, straws, bags and cutlery could be banned across all of Kirklees.
Council officials are looking to see if they can prevent takeaways, restaurants and shops from adding to the mountain of plastic waste we create.
In the absence of national legislation, the council is investigating if it can use licensing laws to impose a ban on individual businesses, the Examiner can reveal.
While a number of councils have brought in bans on plastic cups on their own premises, Kirklees could be the first in the country for a total ban, if officials can find a way.
So-called single-use plastics have been in the spotlight in recent weeks as one of the biggest pollutants to our environment.
Many can easily be replaced with recycleable alternatives, such as cardboard or paper.
The revelation that Kirklees is looking to take action came out during a meeting of councillors.
Amid criticism from Green leader Clr Andrew Cooper for allowing single-use plastic cups at the water coolers in Huddersfield Town Hall, cabinet member Clr Naheed Mather revealed she was looking for a change in policy.
She said: “It’s tragic our waste is contaminating our environment.
“The council could outlaw single use plastic as part of licensing. This is something we’re looking into.”
Clarifying her comments to the Examiner after the meeting, she said: “We want to demonstrate leadership on this.
“There’s a possibility of introducing conditions as part of the licence for premises that say single use plastics are not used.
“At the moment these are just ideas – we’re still checking the legal stance.”
Commenting on the fact that single use plastic cups are used by councillors at town hall meetings in Huddersfield, she added: “We should be flying the flag on this.
“We need to be leading by example so it’s something we will be looking into.”
During the council meeting, Clr Cooper urged Clr Mather for action on banning plastic cups from town halls. He criticised her for saying they were waiting for national guidance.
Clr Cooper said: “There are other councils doing this now – why not Kirklees?
“Why is Kirklees a council that waits? We need to walk the walk.
“We don’t have to wait for others to tell us what to do.”
Commenting on the clarification that the council is looking at a borough-wide ban, he said: “That would be marvellous if it’s possible.
“She may believe she can do it but that sounds like that sort of thing that would wouldn’t be possible without national legislation.”
Worldwide only 10% of plastic items are recycled. The European Union has said it is planning to require all packaging is re-useable or recyclable by 2030.
Vice-president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, has said Brussels’ priority was to clamp down on plastics that are used it “for five minutes” that “take 500 years to break down again”.
Supermarket chain Iceland, founded by Grange Moor-born Malcolm Walker, is the first to vow action, promising to eliminate or drastically reduce plastic packaging of all its own-label products by the end of 2023.