Anne Main MP has welcomed the government’s announcement that it will explore how best to clamp down on damaging plastic waste.
Mrs Main, who was recently-elected chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Prevention of Plastic Waste, said that the chancellor’s announcement signalled, ‘a clear intent to tackle the scourge of single-use plastics that do so much damage to our environment and wildlife.’
The chancellor announced in his spring statement a call for evidence to explore how government could change the tax system to reduce the amount of single-use plastics in order to deliver better environmental outcomes.
‘It is vitally important that government seeks to pull every lever it can to improve on plastic waste. But we must work with producer and consumer, as well as looking at the tax system,’ said Anne.
‘In our most recent meeting of the APPG, we met with Sian Sutherland from A Plastic Planet to discuss how consumers and producers can move towards a more sustainable form of packaging. I am keen to explore the ways in which MPs and government can help industry move away from plastics that are damaging the environment.’
The St Albans MP is currently working on a report which is looking closely at plastics of every-day use. It will make recommendations to government based on its findings, and will seek the approval of the APPG before submission to ministers.
‘I hope that by continuing to help government along the way, as well as scrutinising its plans, we can make real progress on an issue which has become globally significant.’
Watch: Anne Main, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, talks about the Rohingya crisis and urges support for @DECappeal pic.twitter.com/FFL0lq8O0A
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