GLASGOW is to be free of ‘unnecessary’ plastic by 2030, according to a new council strategy plan.
The Glasgow City Council plastics reduction strategy sets out a 24-point action plan for preventing and reducing the amount of plastic used and disposed of in the city.
The proposed initial action plan includes a study on the feasibility of a city-wide ban on ‘certain’ single-use plastic items, developing a first plastic-free shopping zone, increasing the number of free top-up taps for refilling water bottles, supporting projects that remove plastics from Glasgow’s waterways, and exploring the logistics of opening a plastic-free school.
Plans have also been proposed to tighten up legislation on items such as plastic bags and packaging, which would be accompanied by with an education campaign on how to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic.
Andy Waddell, director of operations for the council’s neighbourhoods and sustainability department, said, “Plastic has become ever present feature of modern life and it has any number of vital applications. From medical equipment to car safety features, computers and wheelie bins, plastic shows it usefulness time and time again.
“But we do live in a throwaway society and we do take for granted the impact that flows from treating so many plastic products as instantly disposable. The Plastic Reduction Strategy is therefore about seeking alternatives to plastic but also an alternative approach to how we use plastic itself.
“Plastic clearly has its place, but aiming to end the unnecessary use of plastic will have a significant positive impact on the environment. There is already a huge amount of scope for our habits to change and technology is changing so quickly that our norms will be transformed in the years ahead.
“The action plan sets a course for rapid change in the initial stages and we intend to update our plans on a regular basis. This will help us gather momentum but also refine and strengthen the strategy over its lifespan. The action proposed in the strategy can help Glasgow maintain its position in the UK and across Europe as a leading local authority on sustainability issues.”
