Eastbourne Supermarkets asked to help make a difference

2.42.19pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Oct 2006

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner, Stephen Lloyd, is writing to all the major supermarkets in Eastbourne asking for their help to improve recycling in the Town. The government estimate at least 8 billion plastic bags are given out every year by the major supermarkets. Enough plastic to cover the whole of Sussex and still leave a few million bags over.

"Recycling is a major issue facing us all, and though some positive steps have been taken by the council there is still a long way to go. We can all help to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill, and like many local residents I'm only too aware of how many plastic bags I end up carrying home when shopping in one of our local supermarkets," he said.

"I welcome the work that has already been done by some stores in Eastbourne to recycle their own waste and make space available in car parks to help the public recycle.

"But there is still much more that can be done through encouraging customers to either re-use their old plastic bags or for the supermarkets to do a real push on the stronger, re-useable bags that some already provide. I'd also like to see a real incentive scheme from local supermarkets to help shoppers make the change" Stephen Lloyd added.

"Consequently, I will be writing to all the supermarket managers in Eastbourne asking them what steps they are currently taking 'to make a difference' in their own stores."

"Every week, each person in the United Kingdom uses on average around three plastic bags, said Stephen Lloyd. "That may not sound much but when it's all added up, it is over 150 million bags - every week. A staggering figure, and it show's that if we each made small changes in how we individually reuse and recycle, it could have a big impact."