Taunton Deane MP, Rebecca Pow has welcomed the recent announcement that Parliament will be introducing new measures over the next 12 months to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic across the Parliamentary estate.
As part of this move, plastic bottles of water will no longer be on sale, with more water points installed. Condiment sachets and plastic cutlery and food packaging will be replaced by compostable alternatives.
Locally, both Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) and Somerset County Council are taking steps to reduce the amount of plastic we are using. TDBC agreed in February to phase out single-use plastic products such as bottles, cups, cutlery and drinking straws as well as unnecessary use of plastic bags.
Most recently, Somerset Waste Partnership have announced that all of its 16 recycling centres in Somerset will now accept plastic food pots, tubs and trays, which shows a big move in Somerset on this agenda.
Rebecca, who has been working with the House of Commons Authorities on this issue, said ‘I am delighted to hear that big steps are being taken to tackle single-use avoidable plastics both on the Parliamentary Estate and locally across my constituency of Taunton Deane. Globally around 12 million tonnes of plastics end up in our oceans every year, causing terrible consequences to our wildlife. Wherever possible I know I endeavor to reduce my use of avoidable plastics, and I encourage all my colleagues, constituents and others, to do the same.”