Welcoming a report published today by the Environmental Audit Committee into the sustainability of the fashion industry, Labour’s London Assembly Environment Spokesperson, Leonie Cooper AM, said:
“Fast fashion has a hugely detrimental impact on our environment, with a shocking 235 million items of clothing sent to landfill per year.
“In the capital, we are seeing the results of our failure to get a grip on the issue, with unwanted clothing ending up dumped on our streets.
“My own research has found that fly-tipping in London accounts for over a third of all fly-tipping in England. The cost of investigations into, and disposal of this illegal rubbish in the capital totalled £18.4 million in 2016/17.
“That's why I'm working with local authorities from across London, holding a seminar at City Hall in March, to share best practice to tackle the scourge of mess on our streets.
“This report drives home the fact that major retailers need step up to the mark and provide the means for their customers to recycle old clothing. We also need the Government to promote a circular economy for fashion, which will help protect the planet and could save Londoners money.
“Let’s be clear, we all need to play a role in cleaning up our environment and public realm. So, it is vital that our fashion and retail industry swiftly acts upon this wake-up call”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Leonie Cooper’s report, Unwanted Goods, Unwanted Mess: Tackling London’s Fly-Tipping Nuisance, can be found here;