The Government released their 25-year environment plan today. Caroline Russell AM is disappointed that the Government failed to introduce the following:
- a national single-use bottle return scheme
- a national charge on all disposable coffee cups
- extension of the plastic bag charge to all retailers, rather than a consultation
Caroline Russell said:
The Government is playing catch up having sat for years on this growing crisis of plastic in our oceans and environment.
If the Prime Minister was really serious, she would have pledged to eliminating this manmade plastic menace in the next 5-10 years, backed up by national legislation to help local authorities, people and businesses to play their part in tackling this blight.
The London Assembly unanimously supported a charge on all single-use plastic bags, including small retailers, when a motion was brought by my predecessor Jenny Jones, in 2012.The Government is way behind the curve on this and delaying it even further with a pointless consultation is an insult to every Londoner trying to do their bit.
Notes to editors
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTc7ggKLfcY
London Assembly motion, calling on the Mayor of London to lobby government to introduce a charge on single use carrier bags was unanimously passed by the London Assembly. This motion was proposed by Green London Assembly Member Jenny Jones, and took place at the London Assembly Meeting on 12th September 2012.
The motions: 'This Assembly notes the failure of supermarkets to prevent an increase in the number of single use plastic bags issued by them, through voluntary measures, over the past two years. It also notes the London Assembly 2007 report, 'Bag to Basics' which supported the introduction of a national levy on single use carrier bags.
This Assembly calls on the Mayor to request that the Secretary of State for the Environment enacts the reserve legislation in place under the Climate Change Act 2008, and introduces a mandatory charge on all single use carrier bags, ensuring that small businesses are protected from any additional administrative burden.'