Council aims to bin plastic waste

South Holland District Council is set to sign-up to a scheme as a ‘community leader’ in sustainability.

The council is about to become party to a Sustainable Products Policy which outlines the huge environmental cost of single-use items – including plastic bags.

“Single use plastics are one of the biggest contributors to this environmental problem. They include items such as plastic bags,” says a report to go before members of the Cabinet on Tuesday.

The new policy is for all three councils in the current partnership, Boston Borough, South Holland District and East Lindsey.

But South Holland is the only authority still giving out black plastic bags for waste and green plastic bags for recycling each week.

“The implementation of this policy will ensure that as a community leader we set a positive example for others to follow,” says the report.

But South Holland is set to retain its plastic bag distribution of more than five million a year to householders in the district.

Deputy leader of the council, Nick Worth, said until a better alternative was found, the council would continue using the single-use bags.

“Even if we had wheelie bins there would be plastic bags inside those, so it’s no different.

“We are trying to see at the procurement stage where we can find products which are not single-use.

“But it has to be economically viable,” he said.

The policy has been developed to outline actions needed for a sustainable approach across the partnership authorities.

“The policy sets out the commitment to discontinuing the procurement of single use products as far as possible within our internal operations and finding the best alternative solutions,” says a document going before cabinet members.

If the authorities are to meet net zero targets, they have to find ways to reduce carbon emissions and utilise sustainable options to reduce waste.

Single use plastics are often difficult to recycle and have ‘wasteful production processes’ the report says.

Currently 29 per cent is recycled with a projected increase to 37 per cent by 2030.

A comprehensive audit of single use products will be undertaken by the councils as part of the policy.