BIN THE BAGS

9.28.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Apr 2008

Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Pinnock

Shoppers in Spenborough are going to be encouraged to bin their plastic bags once and for all under a new scheme which is being set up with the help of the Spenborough Chamber of Trade.

Under the scheme, shoppers will be offered reusable shopping bags in exchange for ditching their plastic carriers.

Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Pinnock is driving the idea:

He says:

"The Lib Dem Group got backing for Kirklees Council to try to become the first plastic bag free large urban council. Now we are trying to implement this across the borough".

"In Cleckheaton, local Town Manager Keith Joplin has done a great job in talking with individual retailers. People are enthused by the idea but clearly want to know about practical issues."

"Reducing the number of plastic bags used in Kirklees is a top priority. 100 million are used here on average each year alone and this is simply leaving behind a trail of waste and pollution which later generations will have to live with."

"The Area Committee with council funding will provide reusable bags to as many businesses and shop owners as want them. This raises the issue of using plastic bags with shoppers directly, giving them the opportunity to switch to reusable bags for good".

"Schemes such as this are vital to committing plastic bags to the dustbin of history permanently. I am thankful to the members of the Chamber for working to get it set up".

The Chamber of Trade Meet every Tuesday night at various venues and interested members of the public are free to attend. Contact details are provided on the Kirklees website at www.kirklees.gov.uk.