Tougher penalties to cut packaging waste

Last updated at 12:24 27 April 2007


Penalties for companies

which break an EU directive

banning excessive

packaging should be

made tougher, council

chiefs have said.

The Local Government

Association said

the EU rule has too

many loopholes and the

maximum fine of £5,000

is not a big enough

deterrent.

There have been just four successful

prosecutions since the

UK adopted the EU law eight

years ago. Concern is mounting

over excess packaging,

forcing many supermarkets

to take action.

Sainsbury's is holding a

one-day ban on plastic carrier bags, offering

free "bags for life" instead.

Asda has launched a pilot scheme

at two of its stores asking

customers to return excess packaging.

It says the move will help put

pressure on big name brands to

reduce product waste.

The pilot scheme at two busy

branches follows Environment

Minister Ben Bradshaw's calls for

shoppers to leave "excessive and

unnecessary" packaging behind at

stores.

Asda is asking shoppers to

put excess packaging into huge

wheelie bins in front of its outlets

in York and Dewsbury.

If successful, it will roll out the

pilot scheme to all UK stores.

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