In a letter to the Secretaries of State and Ministers at DEFRA and the Department of Communities and Local Government, the 23 signatories ask the Government to form an Advisory Committee for Litter Reduction in order to deliver a National Litter Plan to eliminate all litter.
The Foodservice Packaging Association, together with Hubbub, INCPEN and the Packaging Federation, has been instrumental in bringing the parties together.
The letter states: “The formation of an Advisory Committee is an unparalleled opportunity to take a major step to reduce the societal impact of all litter. Without such Government leadership, efforts to deal with littering will continue to be fragmented and so less effective in delivering significant reductions in littering and in the costs of dealing with it.”
Martin Kersh, Executive Director the Fooodservice Packaging Association said: “It’s a huge step forward to form a joint approach to tackling litter, but it needs Government backing in order to work. The Advisory Committee will ensure resources are better directed towards achieving a National Litter Plan and that we have a consistent voice and approach towards dealing with litter.
“Hubbub has worked incredibly hard to get these parties talking and working together and we are all passionate that something must be done to reduce litter in our country.”
Jane Bickerstaffe. Director of INCPEN, the Industry Council for research on Packaging & the Environment says, “There are lots of excellent anti-litter initiatives but no coordinated long term programme and litter is getting worse so Government needs to take a lead and ensure everyone works together.
“INCPEN members, like the rest of society, want a clean, safe environment and will work with others to promote a national plan.”
Trewin Restorick CEO of Hubbub said: ‘Getting rid of litter on our streets requires concerted effort from all sections of society which is why Hubbub has lead efforts to bring a wide range of organisations together who are committed to solving the problem. All of us are now asking government to add their commitment’.
Other signatories include the British Beer and Pub Association, Clean Up Britain, Vacherin and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.