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Council set to lead the way with plan to reduce disposable plastic

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Perth and Kinross Council is aiming to lead the way by encouraging its staff not to use disposable plastic.

The local authority is considering rolling out the initiative in all of its offices after they previously trialled a plastic bottle deposit return scheme.

There is a campaign currently taking place across Scotland asking bars, restaurants and cafes to cut down on plastic straws being issued to customers. This followed concerns raised nationally about the amount of plastic pollution found in coastal waters in the UK.

The campaign is being led by primary school children in Scotland and Kate Forbes, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, with the overall objective being to persuade businesses to replace all plastic straws with biodegradable paper ones.

Western Isles Council was the first Scottish local authority to go plastic-straw free when it phased them out in its schools and civic catering facilities. Now Perth and Kinross Council looks set to follow suit.

On Monday, Scottish Conservative Councillor Colin Stewart, convenor of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment and infrastructure committee, claimed they were effectively leading the way with their intention to stop the use of plastic bottles, cups and straws at their sites.

“The council is already ahead of the curve on this issue,” he said.

“We are working right now on bringing a policy to the council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee on this issue and I have already been in touch with the Plastic Free Perthshire project to invite them in to discuss ending the use of not only plastic straws, but also cups and takeaway water bottles.”

He continued: “Last October, to tie in with Rural Scotland’s ‘Have You got the Bottle’ campaign, the council passed a motion calling for a drinks containers’ deposit return scheme and offered our help to the Scottish Government to help design the scheme and trial it for them.”

Mr Stewart admitted the initiative will not be easy to implement but is confident all council staff will support it.

He added: “There will be challenges in two areas — the practical aspects of procurement and supply, and the behavioural shift required by staff and elected members. However, I am sure that everyone in Perth and Kinross Council is up for the challenge.”

And Jamie Wylie, founder of Plastic Free Perthshire, commended the council on “taking the lead” on reducing the reliance on single-use plastics.

“By following the example of other councils and business across Scotland who are already cutting out plastics such as straws, there’s a real opportunity to cut plastic pollution and protect the amazing environment in Perthshire.

“Plastic Free Perthshire is all about helping businesses reduce the use of straws, takeaway cups and plastic bottles, so it’s fantastic to see the council taking a lead on this.

“We’ve already had positive discussions with the council and we hope to help them make changes to reduce plastic pollution.”

He added: ““We’re currently helping businesses in Dunkeld and Birnam reduce plastic use and would be very interested to help other businesses across Perthshire do the same.”