The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on Welsh Labour to
be more ambitious in its war on plastic and introduce a bottle deposit scheme
in Wales.
While welcoming the long-delayed plans to ban single-use carrier
bags and plastic drinking straws in Wales, the Welsh Liberal Democrats said
there was more to be done.
Under legislation introduced today, single-use carrier bags,
plastic drinking straws, plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers and cotton buds
would all be banned under the proposed new law.
Research from Wrap Cymru estimates that 400,000 tonnes of
plastic waste are generated in Wales each year, with 67 per cent of that waste
being packaging. Another report by the Marine Conservation Society found that
there were 29 drinks containers for every 100 meters of beach in Wales.
A Deposit Return Scheme, also known as a bottle deposit
scheme, encourages people to recycle drinks containers such as plastic or glass
bottles. People pay a small deposit for the container which is paid back when
it is returned to a collection point. In Norway, the scheme has led to 95 per
cent of bottles being recycled.
The UK Government is currently devising its own bottle deposit
scheme, but the scheme has faced severe delays prompting the Welsh Liberal
Democrats to call for Wales to copy Scotland and go ahead with its own scheme.
The Conservatives first announced they would seek to
introduce a UK-wide deposit scheme in 2018, but earlier this year quietly
pushed back the project to “2024 at the very earliest”.
Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:
“The plans to ban single use plastics outlined today are
positive even if delayed and will have our support. However, we are calling on
Labour to continue the war on plastic to protect the Welsh countryside, its
waters and wildlife by introducing its own deposit return scheme. The continued
delays at Westminster only serve to demonstrate tackling plastic pollution is
not high on the Conservatives agenda.
“Not only have Conservative plans been delayed, but
Wildlife and Countryside Link have published a report showing that the plans
look set to be watered down substantially, placing limits on size and potentially
excluding glass products.
“We already know such a scheme would have widespread
public support, with a survey by YouGov & the Countryside Charity finding
that 76 per cent of British public support the scheme for plastic and glass
drinks bottles and aluminium cans.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats have always been the most
environmentally aware of the Welsh political parties and action to protect our
wildlife, waters and countryside is at the heart of what we are fighting for.
We are calling on Welsh Labour to match our ambition, we simply cannot afford
to wait for the Conservatives delayed plans.
“Scotland has already moved ahead with its own scheme
which will be operational by next summer, there is no reason why we in Wales
cannot do the same.”
Comments