Lib Dems call to 'terminate' plastic bag use

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Apr 2007

Local Liberal Democrats have joined forces with Dianna Wallis MEP to call for measures to reduce the use of plastic bags

Local Liberal Democrats have joined forces with Dianna Wallis MEP to call for measures to reduce the use of plastic bags. The move comes as more and more places around the world are beginning to recognise the need to address the environmental damage that plastic bags create. Lib Dems are pressing for a small tax to 'terminate' the use of plastic bags.

Diana Wallis, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and Vice President of the European Parliament, said: -

"It is estimated that in Yorkshire & the Humber region alone about one billion plastic bags are distributed every year. Plastic bags litter the environment, pollute our seas and cause the death of birds and other animals as a result"

"Only recently Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has overseen a ban on plastic bags in San Francisco. In other countries such as Ireland they have introduced a small tax that has been a huge success, encouraging people to reuse bags without creating waste"

"It is time real action was taken to clear the plastic bag mountain."

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: -

"We can see that more and more places around the world are beginning to recognise that we need to address the environmental damage plastic bags create. If Arnold Schwarzenegger and California can take action, then so can Sheffield. Its time for real action to 'terminate' the use of plastic bags"