Bags of promo stuff "a waste"

Written by Maureen Rigg and published in Evening Gazette, Tuesday Sept 16th 2008 on Tue 16th Sep 2008

Bags of promo stuff 'a waste'

Posted by Evening Gazette on September 16, 2008 11:55 AM | Permalink

LOCAL authorities must lead by example when it comes to reducing plastic waste, said a Stockton councillor.

Environment select committee chairman Maureen Rigg expressed concerns over the number of plastic bags and ponchos given away at events.

Using plastic bags containing promotional items was unnecessary, she told a meeting of Stockton Council.

She said: "In July we saw they were giving out hundreds of plastic rain ponchos - of course a lot of them would end up in landfill or hanging from trees and hedges for months on end.

"The authority needs to lead by example and not be seen to be not caring."

Cllr Jennie Beaumont, Cabinet member for the environment, said the issue of plastic bags would be addressed as part of the council's procurement and commissioning strategy.

"Ponchos, which are handy and can be re-used, formed part of the Riverside Festival's marketing plan to encourage visitors to attend the festival as our British weather is so unpredictable," she said.

A survey on the council's waste management strategy showed people in Stockton want to recycle more plastic. In October the council is set to begin rolling out its card and plastic recycling services.