Dundee Liberal Democrats back campaign to reduce excess packaging

5.40.00am GMT Sun 9th Mar 2008

Dundee LibDems back campaign to reduce excess packaging

Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Sunday 9th March) backed calls made at the recent Scottish LibDem Conference in Aviemore for binding targets to be introduced to reduce excess packaging, and slammed the SNP Government which has cut £26 million out of the Strategic Waste Fund budget.

The LibDem Scottish Conference voted overwhelmingly for binding targets in place of current voluntary commitments, and demanded that the Scottish Government makes tackling excess packaging a priority for its new waste strategy.

Liberal Democrat MSP and long-time campaigner on excess packaging, Mike Pringle said, "The average household in Scotland produces over 1.1 tonnes of waste per year resulting in roughly 500,000 tonnes of packaging being thrown away by Scottish homes each year.

"Liberal Democrats want to see large supermarkets providing waste points in store where customers can deposit unwanted packaging. We also want to see Trading Standards provided with adequate resources to effectively tackle producers of excessive packaging."

Locally, here in Dundee LibDem councillor and former City Council Environmental Services and Sustainability Committee Vice Convener, Cllr Helen Dick, said, "It is very concerning that the SNP Government has cut £26 million out of the Strategic Waste Fund budget, despite SNP manifesto commitment to achieve a 'zero waste Scotland'.

"It is time for the Scottish Government to act, instead of sitting back and letting the Westminster Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chase hopeful goals rather than binding targets."

Related Link:

Greener Scotland - Scottish LibDem Environment Policy.