Conservative environmental spokesperson Cllr. Tony Richardson will use next Thursday’s full council meeting to introduce a motion asking the council to consider ways in which it can reduce both its own use of these plastics in its offices and through its procurement policies, but also how it might influence- or ‘nudge’- others in York to limit their use.
Single use or disposable plastics are those which are used once and thrown away- everything from plastic bags and coffee stirrers to water bottles and food packaging. These items are not easily biodegradable and when they do break down they release toxic chemicals into the soil and water.
Cllr Richardson said: “Our Conservative-led administration already looks carefully at integrating ecological concerns into the council’s day to day operations through its One Planet York programme, but following the Chancellor’s budget statement in which he has pledged that the Government will seek views on how to limit the use of disposable plastics, we believe that it’s timely for us here on the ground to start a local review targeted at York.
“York is particularly affected with its rivers and I’m sure we all hate to see the amount of plastic currently bobbing along in the water. Residents have also made it loud and clear that they are not happy with the amount of waste they see scattered around the city centre, despite constant efforts on the part of the council and its partners to keep our streets clean. Obviously there’s no quick fix, but look at the success that charging 5p for carrier bags has had- which has seen the use of plastic bags fall by about 80% over the past two years- and that shows what can be done.
“What we would like to see is the appropriate CYC scrutiny committee take a good look at this issue and see what practical measures we can take here in York to tackle this problem.”