Packaging Waste

Green Councillors are supporting retailers, businesses, community groups and residents who seek improved advice on regulations regarding excessive packaging.

Packaging must be minimised, reusable or recyclable according to the 2003 Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulation and this legislation could be promoted to help people to take action on packaging waste.

Councillor Martha Wardrop said:

When packaging is sent to landfill, it costs taxpayers, and it costs the environment. By helping to educate and inform both businesses andconsumers, the Council can help reduce unnecessary packaging, cut costs and keep prices down.

The Council has an important role to play in encouraging the use of recycled  content in plastic packaging and encouraging the availability of good quality recycled plastic through its business initiatives. There is also innovative design work being done by Glasgow-based companies, and they should be supported too.

Notes for Editors

i) For further information, contact Councillor Wardrop on 07854 817 665

ii) Motion proposed by the Green Councillors and passed at the Full
Council meeting in the City Chambers on 2nd April 2009. This reads:

"Council notes the excessive packaging used by supermarkets isundermining consumer efforts to recycle and adding to landfill costs and Council Tax bills. Council supports less packaging as it would cut costs and lead to lower prices. When it is sent to landfill it is expensive for taxpayers and damaging for the environment.Council will work with retailers to press the supplier chain to take responsibility for reducing packaging and replacing unrecycleable packaging with biodegradable or returnable packaging.

iii) 2003 Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulation
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031941.htm

iv) Trading Standards can be contacted on 0845 270 1558