Litter Code Rubbished

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Nov 2003

Councillor Ann Ozolins (Lib Dem for Idle Ward) has hit out at proposals from the Government for a voluntary code of practice for hot food takeaways to combat litter.

She said,

"In Idle we have over 17 takeaways and some of them have to provide litter bins as a condition of their planning permission. Voluntary codes have no teeth and the Council picks up the bill for hot food litter which is thrown on the street."

"This litter also attracts rats and encourages them to breed so that there are now more rats than people."

"What we need is enforcement, penalties and education. Takeaways should be made responsible for the packaging they create."

"I shall be writing to the Environment Minister Alun Michael to urge him to take tough action against takeaways, the litter and the people who drop it."

Notes:

The government is consulting on proposals for a voluntary code of conduct on litter with a closing date of 30th January 2004. For more info see: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/foodlitter/index.htm