Government consultations on plastic must be followed by action

Responding to the Government's launch of a number of consultations looking at overhauling the waste system, cutting plastic pollution, and moving towards a more circular economy, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael said: “Whilst the Government fail to get a grip of the crisis facing our environment, the detrimental effects to the UK’s wildlife continues. The Liberal Democrats have been clear about the need for a plastic bottle deposit scheme and the Conservative Government must follow through on these consultations with action. "The Liberal Democrats will also continue to fight for a ban on all single-use plastic within three years and the introduction of a levy on all producers and retailers that produce or use single-use plastics." “If the Conservative Government was as good at recycling plastic as they are at recycling consultations then our environment would be in better shape than it is.  It is good that the Government is thinking of acting, but the problem is urgent and needs to be taken seriously.”