Council ‘should show leadership in drive to reduce use of plastics’

AN INQUIRY into single use plastics has called on the region’s largest employer to show community leadership and speed up actions to reduce plastic use.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive will next consider 16 recommendations including high-level commitments to reduce single-use plastics in its array of buildings and encourage its large chain of suppliers to change to more environmentally-friendly materials.

Other recommendations following an in-depth study led by councillors include an action to end the use of single-use plastics products “wherever possible” and for the council, which employs 15,000 staff, to lead by example, demonstrating “positive change and quick wins” on its contracts.

The inquiry also concluded the authority should use its influence on key bodies to promote key messages and long-term campaigns so the “public reduce their use of plastics in the workplace and in the home.”

However, the report states elimination of single-use plastics, although desirable is not realistic at this stage as they contribute to food safety and hygiene, and reduce packaging weight in transit. The report states: “The legacy of the pandemic is more, not less, reason to act in reducing singleuse plastics, especially in light of the massive expansion of its use and all the related pollution that has entailed.”

The inquiry found while a tension between the £82m burden of the pandemic on the council and moves to protect the environment exists, reducing single-use plastics was “not an issue that we can leave”.