Michael Cockburn, Lead Commissioner – Environment Strategy and Partnerships introduced his report and provided a verbal presentation on the development of a Single Use Plastic (SUP) Free Policy for Wirral. The report informed that at its meeting of December 2017 the Council passed a resolution on single use plastic (SUP) and requested Cabinet to set in motion actions to develop a comprehensive policy on phasing out SUP and associated actions as recommended by Council to put Wirral in a leading position on ‘SUP Free’. Strategically, the policy supported the Wirral Plan pledge to create an attractive local environment for Wirral residents. 

Mr Cockburn informed that in response to the Council resolution, officers had subsequently developed an approach to addressing SUP and formulating the SUP Free Wirral Policy, where it was proposed the following be included:

• The development of an SUP free communications and public awareness campaign - to include a briefing for all Council staff.

• Amendment of the Council’s ‘Managing our Waste Strategy’ to set out the Council’s commitment to becoming SUP free.

• Working with local groups and interested parties to support local schemes and audits of plastic accumulations.

• Specifying that Council services and events will operate SUP free.

• Specifying within the Council’s conditions of hire that third party events held in Council facilities or on Council land must operate SUP free.

• The Council’s procurement processes be developed to provide SUP alternatives.

• The development of a voluntary SUP code for Wirral businesses in conjunction with the Wirral Chamber of Commerce.

• Encourage strategic partners to adopt SUP free policies and work together to eradicate SUP. 

The Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that the proposed SUP Free Wirral policy will be developed to support the Council’s long term objectives for carbon reduction, adaptation for unavoidable climate change and to help drive behavioural changes in the way people relate to their local environment via the Love Where You Live campaign.

The report further informed that the Council and its partners had already made progress in putting into place key aspects of the SUP Free Wirral policy.

Mr Cockburn apprised the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the BBC’s Blue Planet series in late 2017, and the daily media coverage on SUP since, had exercised public opinion and concern, he added that the China crisis and resulting market collapse for disposal/recycling abroad had resulted in the local (UK) stockpiling of plastics.

Members noted that the Waste Disposal Authority’s inability to receive hard plastics means that it wasn’t being recycled across the City Region. This, in addition to feedback and concerns raised by local communities particularly those beach-combing on Wirral’s beaches, was driving the implementation of SUP free policies.

Mr Cockburn’s presentation highlighted the  Government’s 4 point plan due to be launched later this year, that aimed to:

• cut amount plastic in circulation;
• reduce the number of different plastics in use;
• address declining recycling performance; and
• make it easier for people to recycle.

Consultation was also underway on a proposed deposit / return scheme for plastic drinking bottles, and other considerations included a potential levy for SUP and a Supermarket directive regarding packaging.

Following this meeting, Mr Cockburn explained that it was hoped that following Council ratification of a SUP Free Wirral Policy, the Policy would be fully established during 2018/19. Council services were currently reviewing service provision to identify SUP products that can be removed/replaced across a wide variety of services i.e. education, licensing, procurement, event management and leisure services. He added that, for example, vending provision aimed to become SUP free, with further provision of water fountains in appropriate locations (leisure centres).

Members noted that most of Wirral’s school were part of the Eco Schools programme over 56 of which held Green Flag status. Eco Schools’ interactive educational packages were to be updated to include SUP Free.

In response to Member questions, the Team Leader Performance and Scrutiny and the Lead Commissioner – Environment Strategy and Partnerships provided additional information on a number of key areas, these included:

• Primary Legislation;
• Plastic free aisles in supermarkets;
• Alternative road surfaces i.e. the use of recycled plastics;
• Progress on recycling arrangements for hard plastics to address stockpiling.

Resolved – That the proposals for the Single Use Plastic Free Wirral Policy be noted, and recommended to the Cabinet Member Environment for implementation.