Single-use plastic plan
THE COUNCIL is seeking to set an example to businesses, schools and residents when it comes to eliminating single-use plastics.
Cllr Gregor Murray said that in March Wokingham Borough Council had “launched an internal sustainability campaign, aimed at encouraging behaviour change, to ‘encourage staff’ as far as possible to stop single-use plastic”.
He made the comments in response to a query from Cllr Andy
Croy, who wanted to know “why has Wokingham Borough Council not eliminated the use of non-essential single use plastics from Shute End and all Council controlled environments?”
Cllr Murray, who is the executive member for climate emergency, said that the council has been “proactively working to eliminate the use of single-use plastics where it is not essential” such as dispensing machines.
He continued: “The Council has reduced the use of single-use plastics fromthe catering services of 34 schools across the Borough. School kitchens have benefited from no cling film pledges, removal of plastic cups, straws, bottles, crudities tubs, and the introduction of reusable plastic pots and containers and fully recyclable packaging materials.”
Andwith the single-use blue bags for waste disposal, Cllr Murray said: “They act to reduce residual waste and drive up recycling as we restrict themto 80 x 80 litre bags per annum and encourage residents to return unused bags to our Libraries and community hubs”.
In a written question, Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, asked Cllr Murray what efforts the council hadmade to engage with businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
Cllr Murray said it was a priority and helped inform the council’s own decision making.
“The council has already set up a Climate Emergency Advisory Board of experts in this field,” he said. “This involves both national and local business organisations as well as representatives from the academic and charity sector.”
He also said that the council was canvassing the views of local businesses to see how they were adapting under the coronavirus.