The horrors of our addiction to plastic are now common-knowledge. Plastic has an important place in our technological development and is in many ways an ingenious and revolutionary product. Nonetheless, it is time for another plastic revolution. It is time to ditch single-use plastic. On being elected to the Council in May, I was horrified by the number of single use plastic cups and single use composite cups that are used by Members, staff and visitors on a daily basis. The response to the recent ‘Plastic-free Powys’ campaign indicates that residents would likely be just as disappointed.
Will Members demonstrate leadership by asking that Council;
A) Promote Powys as a major plastic reducer
B) Develop a strategy to:
1. Encourage staff and residents to:
a. Carry refillable water bottles and, longer term, consider a water fountain in town centres where they can be refilled.
Proposer: County Councillor Emily Durrant
Seconder: County Councillor Bryn Davies
Minutes:
Council debated the following notice of motion proposed by County Councillor Emily Durrant and seconded by County Councillor Bryn Davies:
“The horrors of our addiction to plastic are now common-knowledge. Plastic has an important place in our technological development and is in many ways an ingenious and revolutionary product. Nonetheless, it is time for another plastic revolution. It is time to ditch single-use plastic. On being elected to the Council in May, I was horrified by the number of single use plastic cups and single use composite cups that are used by Members, staff and visitors on a daily basis. The response to the recent ‘Plastic-free Powys’ campaign indicates that residents would likely be just as disappointed.
Will Members demonstrate leadership by asking that Council;
A) Promote Powys as a major plastic reducer
B) Develop a strategy to:
1. Encourage staff and residents to:
a. Carry refillable water bottles and, longer term, consider a water fountain in town centres where they can be refilled.
b. Carry reusable coffee cups and to refuse single use coffee cups when offered (for example, by placing a 5p charge on single use coffee cups in council run buildings is one idea)
c. Avoid products with micro beads and to only flush paper down their loos. Not flushing wet wipes and cotton buds and disposable contact lenses down the loo would reduce plastic in the ocean and help the sewage system.
2. Encourage food and drinks outlets across the county to:
a. Offer a biodegradable alternative and advertise a willingness to fill people's own cups
b. Use paper and not plastic straws.”
Council adjourned from 13.02 to 13.51.
County Councillor D E Davies (Chair)
County Councillors MC Alexander, M Barnes, B Baynham, J Charlton, K W Curry, A W Davies, B Davies, P Davies, S C Davies, M J Dorrance, E Durrant, D O Evans, J Evans, L Fitzpatrick, M R Harris, S M Hayes, A Jenner, D R Jones, E Jones, M J Jones, D Jones-Poston, F H Jump, MC Mackenzie, S McNicholas, DW Meredith, C Mills, N Morrison, R Powell, GD Price, J Pugh, G W Ratcliffe, L Roberts, K M Roberts-Jones, E Roderick, D Rowlands, K S Silk, D A Thomas, R G Thomas, T J Van-Rees, E Vaughan, A Williams, G I S Williams, D H Williams, J M Williams, and S L Williams
County Councillor Jackie Charlton moved the following amendment, seconded by County Councillor Maureen Mackenzie adding an extra recommendation
C)This Authority supports and promotes a National Bottle Return Scheme within Powys schools and buildings to cut the amount of waste as well as reduce the level of litter that we see across our road system in Powys.
County Councillor James Evans left at 13.59.
County Councillor Amanda Jenner, seconded by County Councillor Lucy Roberts proposed a further amendment:
C) This Authority looks into how it can support and promote a National Bottle Return Scheme within Powys schools and buildings to cut the amount of waste as well as reduce the level of litter that we see across our road system in Powys.
This was passed by 34 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions becoming the substantive motion. By 35 votes to 0 with 1 abstention it was
RESOLVED that the Council
A) Promotes Powys as a major plastic reducer
B) Develop a strategy to:
1. Encourage staff and residents to:
a. Carry refillable water bottles and, longer term, consider a water fountain in town centres where they can be refilled.
b. Carry reusable coffee cups and to refuse single use coffee cups when offered (for example, by placing a 5p charge on single use coffee cups in council run buildings is one idea)
c. Avoid products with micro beads and to only flush paper down their loos. Not flushing wet wipes and cotton buds and disposable contact lenses down the loo would reduce plastic in the ocean and help the sewage system.
2. Encourage food and drinks outlets across the county to:
a. Offer a biodegradable alternative and advertise a willingness to fill people's own cups
b. Use paper and not plastic straws.
C)This Authority looks into how it can support and promote a National Bottle Return Scheme within Powys schools and buildings to cut the amount of waste as well as reduce the level of litter that we see across our road system in Powys.