Chair of the Environment Committee, Leonie Cooper AM, said:
“The release of the Government’s plastic strategy is welcome. But we really need action now. At current rates, in 25 years’ time, people in the UK would have used 192.5 billion plastic bottles! [1]
Londoners consume more plastic bottled water per person than anywhere else in England, we have some of the worst recycling rates in the UK and plastic bottles make up 10 per cent of all litter found in the Thames.
In our ‘Bottled Water’ report last year, we found that improving London’s poor recycling rates is an ongoing challenge for the Mayor and boroughs. Deposit Return Schemes have been successfully introduced elsewhere and may offer one way to increase plastic bottle recycling. Government should look at implementing a national scheme and London is keen to run a pilot programme. Water refill schemes are also important.
So, while we commend the government’s ideas – we push for more speed to implement solutions to an urgent problem that is getting worse by the day.”
Notes to editors
- London contributes to shameful UK pollution problem as Britons admit to using 7.7 billion plastic bottles of water a year – Brita
- Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
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