Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, has continued the campaign for the Government to introduce a deposit return scheme for single use plastic bottles by lobbying the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove MP, while on a visit to Cornwall.
In July, Mr Gove said he wanted the Government to introduce a plastic bottle deposit scheme "as soon as possible", and that "change needs to come" as plastic pollution is "killing whales, choking dolphins and degrading our oceans and seas".
Describing a plastic bottle deposit scheme as a "great idea", he said it was vital to devise a programme "that others can buy into".
Commenting, Steve said:
“It was great to see the Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Affairs at Newquay on Friday.”
“While it was very much a whistle-stop visit, I was keen to discuss with him the importance of bringing forward plans for a deposit return scheme for single use plastic bottles in England. With such a scheme now happening in Scotland, we need to act soon and make this sensible and progressive plan a reality.”
“As Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group Protect Our Waves, this week I am joining with a cross party group of MPs and Surfers Against Sewage to present a petition signed by thousands of members of the public supporting this scheme.”
I will continue to press the issue in Parliament and ensure that when the Government does take further steps the final scheme is one that is effective in reducing the numbers of plastic bottles that get dumped into our seas and end up on our beaches.”