The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
SNP group sets sights on ‘more ambitious’ ban for plastics
Environment: Councillor unveils proposals to take campaign into communities
The SNP group on Angus Council has given its full support for calls to consider alternatives to all single use plastic used on council premises.
Angus Provost Ronnie Proctor initially led the call to ban plastic drinking straws, with a view to introducing measures that would drastically reduce the use of other single use plastic items such as carrier bags.
However, Monifieth and Sidlaw SNP councillor Beth Whiteside is calling for the council to be “more ambitious”.
She said: “I welcome the recent spotlight on plastic waste, including the campaign by our Provost, Ronnie Proctor, to ban plastic straws and other single use plastic on council premises.
“It’s encouraging to see the support for change across the board.
“I believe, however, that we must be much more ambitious if we are to have an impact on the problem. In addition to straws and cups, we need to look at the mountain of single use plastic bottles, bags, packaging and throwaway fast food containers that we recklessly discard.
“According to ecowatch.com, approximately 10% of the waste we produce is plastic; in the last 10 years alone, we produced as much plastic as in the whole of the last century – scary stuff, especially as none of this is biodegradable.”
Ms Whiteside also unveiled proposals by the SNP group to take the campaign out into communities.
“We plan to take the campaign to businesses, suggesting biogradable products for takeaway food in place of polystyrene containers, which can’t be recycled.
“We will also encourage food and drink outlets in Angus to consider incentives, such as discounts for customers using their own mugs for takeaway coffee.
“Businesses showing green initiatives may find they pay off, with increased support from their environmentally aware customers.
“I urge everyone to think about the waste we create ourselves – try using refillable bottles for water, travel mugs for takeaway coffee, and re-usable lunch boxes and bags for packed lunches.”
Mr Proctor said: “This is an issue that transcends politics and is one that we can tackle by councillors of all parties and none working together to make a real difference in our communities for future generations.”