Durham County Council aims to become biggest UK Council to target the end of single use plastic.

Councillors in the North East’s largest Council will debate measures to scrap Council use of single use plastics (SUPs) on Wednesday this week.

A motion put forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes (Framwellgate & Newton Hall) also includes proposals to work with businesses and residents to cut their plastic waste. This could include bringing in rules which could see all businesses with council contracts having to show they have an SUP policy.

Councillor Wilkes commented “The impact of SUPs on our environment is immense. Oceans around the world now have up to 50,000 pieces of plastic on the surface per square mile.

“So much of our culture has become throwaway and it is simply unsustainable. The Council is using over 70,000 disposable cups alone each year – which are not biodegradable. This cannot continue.”

The Councillor’s motion also proposes that contracts for outdoor events across County Durham could require companies to provide reusable or biodegradable containers for fast food.

A working group would look at how the Council can assist the public and businesses in cutting their plastic use.

The Councillor adds. “If everyone in the County makes just one small change it will add up to a big impact. With the Council leading the way on this, there is an opportunity to really achieve something good.”

Fellow Lib Dem Councillor Liz Brown (Neville’s Cross) says that everyone in the County can make a difference:

“Every resident has the opportunity to contribute towards a change in attitudes. Take a look at your everyday life, and see where there are plastics which end up in the bin, or potentially out there in the wider environment.

“It’s stunning just how much we are throwing away. Every year we currently recover only 5% of the plastics we produce.”

“However we can all make a difference. For example if just a few of us complain at supermarkets about plastic bags for loose veg instead of paper, or tell managers our views about ridiculous packaging on fruit, perhaps something will be done.”

The motion will be debated on Wednesday at County Hall in Durham. The full council meeting is open to all members of the public to attend.