Cut down on packaging say Lib Dems (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

Cut down on packaging say Lib Dems

March 20, 2007 1:09 PM

Cut down on packaging say Lib Dems

A motion to be tabled at this Wednesday's council meeting challenges all businesses in Kirklees to consider the implications of all of the packaging waste they pass on to customers says Cllr Ann Denham (Lib Dem Spokesperson on the Environment.

"I want to have a debate with business about the damage they are doing to the earth's climate by not considering the implications of all their packaging. Next month the tax on landfill goes up to £24.00. Packaging is not only environmentally damaging but its going to cost a lot more to bury it in holes in the ground" says Councillor Denham.

"Packaging typically costs a family about £470 each year, one sixth of their food budgets; according to the Governments own Waste Resources Action Programme. It's worrying that over half of the household waste produced by homes in Kirklees every year is from packaging. It costs families the equivalent of two month's grocery bills just to pay for throw away wrapping and packaging."

"The Liberal Democrats are backing a Bill being presented by Andrew Stunnell MP that will make large stores like Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda accept packaging returned by customers. The aim is to get retailers to put pressure on suppliers to cut packaging with the result of less waste. This is good for the environment, good for the council costs and good for waste disposal says Councillor Denham. "Similar laws in German and Switzerland quickly resulted in retailers putting pressure on suppliers and manufacturers to cut down on packaging saving both money and landfill."

"I am also asking for the five Labour Members of Parliament to support Andrew Stunnell's Bill and to also sign up to early Day Motion 814 in support of campaigns to reduce packaging" says Councillor Denham. "It's time to put supermarkets under pressure and really cut back on waste."