Speaking in Environment Questions on Thursday, Gedling’s Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Randall said “It has been said that the UK is one of the most significant plastic waste producers, producing 99 kilograms of plastic waste per person, compared to 88 kilograms in South Korea and 81 in Germany.
“My constituents Amy and Ella Meek have set up Kids Against Plastic. A charity to help raise awareness of this in schools and I am speaking with them on a panel later today.”
Tom went on to ask the Minister for Agri-Innovation and Climate Adaptation “Would my Right Honourable Friend agree with me that it is the responsibility of all of us to reduce our plastic waste output?"
The Minister for Agri-Innovation and Climate Adaptation, Jo Churchill MP replied: “I would agree absolutely and thank you for highlighting the excellent work of Amy and Ella Meek and their Kids Against Plastic charity. I wish you well with that panel this afternoon. To them and others taking action against plastic and raising awareness in schools, I congratulate them all.
“This is the responsibility of all us. To reduce, repair, reuse, recycle. We must get on with reducing plastic waste.”
This is the second time Gedling’s MP Tom Randall has raised awareness to the Kids Against Plastic campaign in the House of Commons, after asking the Minister for School Standards in November to meet Amy and Ella Meek to see what more can be done to rid schools of single-use plastics.
Speaking after Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Questions, Tom said, “We have all seen the devastating effects plastic has on our environment. We all have a role to play in reducing plastic waste and the UK is a global leader in tackling that.
“Without urgent action to cut demand, it is estimated 34 billion tonnes of plastic will have been manufactured globally by 2050. I am pleased that the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy sets out plans to reduce, reuse, and recycle more plastic than we do now. The target is to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste throughout the life of the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan, but for the most problematic plastics ministers are going faster and have committed to work towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
"I enjoyed taking part in a useful panel discussion yesterday, discussing how Gedling can play its part in reducing plastic waste with Amy and Ella.”
