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A new group to consider how to reduce the number of single use carrier bags and promote bags for life was announced today.
Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Richard Lochhead made the announcement following a meeting with major retailers where he promised to work closely with retailers to tackle Scotland's over-use of carrier bags. He said: "This morning's meeting with a number of national retailers was very constructive and gave us the chance to discuss the problem of single-use bags as part of the Scottish Government's zero waste agenda. "Reducing the unnecessary use of these bags is crucial if we are going to achieve a zero waste society in Scotland. "There is already voluntary agreement in place with retailers and a recent survey showed that some progress has been made. "However, more needs to be done, especially if we are to avoid legislation. In Scotland last year we still used over one billion bags. "However, all retailers in attendance are keen to co-operate with us and many are already taking significant steps to try and cut customers' use of bags. "From today, the Scottish Government will lead the Zero Waste Retailers Group which will,include the Scottish Retail Consortium and Waste Aware Scotland. The Group will consider how retailers can best engage with our zero waste agenda. "Together we will consider various options to cut bag use on a voluntary basis, such as increasing the use of long-life bags and close work with schools, community groups and local authorities. "Discarded bags do not only increase landfill, they are a blot on Scotland's landscape and we must work together to cut down on the number of bags we use." "I have always said that consumers also have a key role to play in this as well. One of the 10 Greener Pledges we launched in January is to reuse carrier bags. "We must all reuse and recycle bags as much as possible and whenever we're at the checkout ask ourselves the question - 'do I need a bag?'" Fiona Moriarty, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium added: "Retailers welcome the opportunity to continue to work on a voluntary basis with the Scottish Government in supporting customer action to reduce single use carrier bags. "Each retailer knows their customers and how to engage them so we think this voluntary collaboration is the right approach. "We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, building on the approaches already being undertaken by our members." Cutting down on the use of single-use carrier bags is one of the Scottish Government's 10 Greener Pledges. Retailers attending the meeting were: Asda
Boots
Co-op
Debenhams
Home Retail Group
John Lewis
Marks and Spencer
Morrisons
Next
Nisa-Todays
Primark
Sainsbury's
TK Maxx
Tesco
Waitrose The meeting was also attended by the Scottish Retail Consortium, the Scottish Grocers Federation, the Waste and Resources Action Programme and Waste Aware Scotland. www.scotland.gov.uk |
