Action plan to reduce plastic use

Denbighshire Council’s progress to reducing the amount of  plastic it uses will be highlighted at a meeting next week.
Members of the council’s performance scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday (November 28) will review the council’s action plan on its use of plastics.
Last year the council voted in favour of a Plaid Cymru notice of motion to reduce the amount of plastics used by the local authority.
Plastics have become a major concern after the broadcast of Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2.
The programme highlighted the devastating impact of plastic on the world’s oceans since they became widely used after the Second World War.
An action plan on tackling the problem has now been drawn up by councillors with it due to get final approval at January’s full council meeting.
Among the moves to reduce the reduction in the use of plastics it has been proposed to stop the provision of blue plastic water cups at water coolers within council buildings, stopping the purchase of plastic stationary wallets in all services as well as to consider the removal of vending machines from council buildings.
A report to members of the committee said: “It is acknowledged that there are many other areas of the council for the group to explore, investigate and make further recommendations for action. It should be noted that polystyrene boxes in schools have been phased out and replaced with a cardboard substitute.
“Sandwich container options have been investigated in detail, however, it has been identified that replacing plastic would be with materials that are significantly more expensive leading to increased costs that are not currently feasible. However, the group as a next step are proposing to look at `School Catering’ over the next 12 months.”

By Shane Brennan – Local Democracy Reporter