This is a “once in a lifetime chance for Wales to be world leader in fighting plastic pollution”

Marking the closure of the ‘Reducing single-use plastic in Wales’ public consultation (1) plastic campaigners, City to Sea, have today said this is a “once in a lifetime opportunity for Wales to be a world leader in fighting plastic pollution”.

The new proposals from the Welsh government will phase out the use of unnecessary, highly littered, single-use plastics in Wales. City to Sea has responded to the consultation urging the Welsh Government to go further than existing suggestions (2).

Commenting, City to Sea’s CEO Rebecca Burgess said,

“For over two years, the Welsh Government has supported Refill, a campaign that stops the need to buy pointless plastic water bottles. Now they have a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a world leader in turning the tide against plastic pollution for good. I encourage them to not just do the minimum to comply with new European-wide standards, but think creatively to make sure they are at the very least matching other country’s plans.

She continued,

“There is so much more that we could be doing. From banning takeaway packaging being used on-site in hotels, restaurants, and cafes; to setting legally binding targets to reduce the sale of single-use plastic bottles and introducing a levy on all throwaway coffee cups. These are things we know work and are already either happening or being proposed by neighbouring countries. We have the evidence – but do we have the political will?”