Agenda item

Context:

To advise the Select Committee of:

·         The efforts being undertaken within Monmouthshire communities to reduce the use of single-use plastics

·         The progress the Council is making in reducing the use of single-use plastics.

Key Issues

There has been a huge increase in interest in reducing the use of single-use plastics in the last few months, not least because of the shocking scenes of plastic contamination in our oceans shown on the BBC’s Blue Planet series. Single use plastics use precious fossil fuels, take hundreds of years to break down, injure wildlife on land and at sea, blight the landscape as litter, block drains and cost money to buy, clear up and dispose of.

This has resulted in actions being taken at local, regional and national levels.

Local Action: Abergavenny, Chepstow, Monmouth and Usk all now have active and enthusiastic Plastic Free community groups in operation, often as an offshoot of the Transition Town and local litter groups. The groups report more public interest in Plastic- Free than in any other previous Transition Town campaign. As part of the Plastic-Free work happening in the towns, some (but not all) of the towns are working towards becoming Plastic Free communities, under an accreditation scheme run by Surfers

Against Sewage.

The steps to get Plastic Free status include:

1. Local Governance - Local Council (County, Town, Parish or Community) passes a resolution to support Plastic Free Coastlines, committing to plastic free alternatives and supporting plastic free initiatives within the constituency.

2. Local Businesses - At least three single-use plastic items removed from local businesses and retailers; replaced with sustainable alternatives. Target number of businesses are determined by population.

3. Allies/Local Community – gain widespread community support for Plastic Free Coastlines, spreading the Plastic Free message and establishing the call to arms e.g. schools, community groups, community spaces etc.

4. On the Ground Action - At least two local community events arranged and made open for all to attend, in one calendar year e.g. litter picks, beach cleans

5. Strategic Group - Local group of stakeholders to meet at least once per year to discuss the progress of Plastic Free Coastlines locally; agreeing and setting direction, meeting objectives, and completing application for official Plastic Free Coastlines status.

Member Scrutiny

The Chair welcomed Sue Harrison of Plastic Free Abergavenny, Graham Neal and Tim Melville of Plastic Free Chepstow, and Vivien Mitchell of Plastic Free Monmouth, who were in attendance to highlight the work of community groups being undertaken to achieve a plastic free status.

Members were keen to congratulate the community groups involved and a question was raised to ask what needs to be done further for the County to be considered plastic free.  The Sustainability Policy Officer explained that there are five specific criteria for a town to become plastic free.  Surfers Against Sewage are keen for people to collaborate and work at a County level and have indicated the following requirements to become plastic free:

·         Make a commitment to work towards plastic free status.

·         Review its own use of single-use plastics and take steps to identify unnecessary plastic use and reduce this.

·         Support voluntary and community action to reduce plastic use, undertake litter picks etc.

·         Work with schools, businesses and other partners to reduce plastic use.

·         Work with organisers of events on MCC property to reduce single use plastics to a minimum (and ensue that effective recycling for necessary plastics is in place).

·         Participate in meetings to support and co-ordinate plastic free activities across the County.

The Officer suggested that the role Strong Communities Select Committee should be to receive community group updates and scrutinise what is being done in the Council capacity.

A Member applauded the work of community groups and expressed frustration around the use of plastic takeaway food cartons, and suggested there should be a facility for these to be returned and somehow re-used. He added that we need to reduce the amount of recycling, and should concentrate on producing products that do not need to be recycled.

A Member questioned how Monmouthshire County Council compare to other authorities, and if there is anyone leading the way to being plastic free.  We heard that Carmarthenshire had recently passed a similar resolution.  Many coastal towns are signed up to becoming plastic free.  MCC could become the first authority to sign up to the Surfers Against Sewage model. 

A question was raised regarding the attitudes of the public and what problems are being faced.  In response, education, information and awareness raising were highlighted as main issues encountered.

A Member expressed that 5 pence carrier bags should be abolished altogether.  It was explained that Welsh Government are looking at a tax on plastic, and it is inevitable the cost will rise.  As well as raising awareness, there needs to be legislative support for change.

Members reflected on the importance of education in schools.  The Education and Awareness Officer explained that children have been taught about marine litter for many years at the One Planet Centre, with some seasons busier than other.  Officers also undertake outreach work with schools, and have received invitations to attend school fetes, providing opportunities to engage with parents.

We heard the community groups have enjoyed working with schools, and recognised their active programmes.

The Public Protection Manager advised there are 119 takeaway restaurants and 1200 food businesses across the County, recognising the importance of linking with waste colleagues in terms of food waste and licensing.  Environmental Health could also link in with the supply chain. 

Recommendations

That Select Committee consider making a policy commitment to become a ‘plastic free county’ through reducing single use plastics, in line with the Plastic Free Coastline campaign run by Surfers Against Sewage

That Select Committee agree to keep informed of community developments to reduce plastic and to scrutinise the Council’s progress towards becoming a Plastic Free County.