December 6, 2018 4.42 pm This story is over 63 months old

Call for council to tackle single-use plastics

Review called into plastics use
Examples of single-use plastics.

Councillors in North East Lincolnshire will call for a review of the amount of single-use plastics used by the local authority over pollution concerns.

In a motion to the council, Councillor Kay Rudd will propose replacing the use of plastics with sustainable and reusable alternatives.

The move is expected to be supported by executive member for environment, transport and energy, Councillor Matthew Patrick.

Councillors will hear the motion at a full council meeting in Cleethorpes on December 13.

Councillor Kay Rudd, North East Lincolnshire Council.

Councillor Rudd will also call on the council to write to the Secretary of State to support any legislation and regulation to tackle plastic pollution.

In the motion, she will say: “Council notes that North East Lincolnshire and its people have always been intrinsically linked with the seas.

“The borough has a rich history of fishing dating back centuries, in the mid-1800s the port of Grimsby grew rapidly, but following a significant decline of the industry the ports becoming a significant player in the offshore wind industry.

“It is with concern that this council notes the growing problem of plastic pollution and its devastating effect on marine environments, in the North Sea and beyond.

Councillor Matthew Patrick, cabinet member for environment, transport and energy.

“Council notes that in 2016 the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that, by weight, there could be more plastic in our oceans than fish as soon as 2050.”

She will add that the council needs to take a “leadership role” in tackling the problem.

It comes as public support for tackling plastic pollution has grown following David Attenborough’s BBC documentary series Blue Planet II.

The motion will be heard at a meeting at Cleethorpes Town Hall. Photo: Mapio

Members of European Parliament supported a complete ban on a range of single use plastics across the union following the programme.

The ban is expected to come into effect across each nation in the European Union by 2021.

It means, should the directive pass before the end of a Brexit transition period, the UK will also have to adopt the ban.

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