Event calls for ‘plastic-less planet’

On Saturday 16 June 2018, an event organised by Churches Together, and held at the Methodist Church Centre in Market Harborough, saw the public put their questions to a panel including politicians, supermarket representatives, specialists and businesses, about what can be done to reduce the amount of plastic being used locally, nationally and globally.

The event also featured a talk from Professor Colin Waters – a specialist in waste pollution from the University of Leicester.

Cllr Neil Bannister, Leader of Harborough District Council, who was among the panel members, said: “This was a hugely worthwhile event and a step in the right direction. Whilst, as a council, we excel at recycling plastics through our trade and domestic bin collections, we are committed to working with others to help reduce the world’s dependence on single-use plastic.”

Data suggests an estimated 12.7 million tonnes of plastic – everything from plastic bottles and bags to microbeads – end up in oceans across the world each year – a truck load of rubbish a minute.

More than half of all household waste collected by Harborough District Council is recycled and diverted away from landfill sites.

Photo of Councillor Neil Bannister courtesy of John Ball