LIBERAL DEMOCRAT BILL TACKLES EXCESS PACKAGING

2.34.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 26th Oct 2007

A bill to tackle excess packaging has today been presented to Parliament by Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson. Setting out the case for her Packaging (Reduction) Bill (a '10 minute rule' bill), Jo called for:

• The establishment of a national body to promote and enforce packaging reduction

• Consumers to be given powers to leave packaging in supermarkets for disposal

• Improvements to packaging regulations to assist the work of Trading Standards officers

• Binding targets for packaging reduction in place of existing voluntary targets [Daily Mail]

Despite increases in recycling, domestic waste has risen by a fifth since 1997. This bill will give consumers the right to send their packaging back to the manufacturers, and help Trading Standards Officers to clamp down on waste. (Swinson)