Single-use plastics still in use at Oldham Council nearly six years after they voted to ban them
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to Civic Centre bosses demanding answers after the Council appears to have rowed back on its policy to ban the use of single-use plastics.
Councillor Sykes said, “Oldham Council supported a Liberal Democrat motion banning single-use plastics in Council buildings back in March 2018.
“Nearly six years later I am disappointed to see single-use plastic cups are still available at water coolers in the Civic Centre and other single-use plastics are prevalent inside council buildings.”
On October 1st 2023 a wider ban on single-use plastics came into effect, impacting businesses across the UK. Oldham Council is responsible for enforcing this ban locally through trading standards. But the Liberal Democrats say the Council is “not doing enough to lead by example.”
Councillor Sykes said, “How can we hope to encourage businesses in Oldham to do their bit for the environment by cutting out single-use plastics, if the Council can’t even get this right in its own buildings? Just another case of not getting the basics right.
“I’ve written to the Leader of the Council urging her administration to take serious action to make this ban a reality.”
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