As Colchester Council’s cabinet member responsible for waste, environment and transport, I would like to encourage local organisations to be plastic aware and consider reducing their use of single-use plastics.

Colchester Council collects a wide range of recycled materials from residents including plastics. However, there are certain types of plastics such as film, thin wrap and bags, which have become difficult to recycle and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

If we continue to collect this material with other types of plastic from residents, it will not be recycled but will be disposed of through landfill or incineration.

I am therefore asking that you reduce the use of these plastics to wrap products you sell and minimise the environmental impact of your business.

There are alternatives to many single-use plastics and Colchester Council is already taking steps to reduce its own use of single-use plastics.

We have also been promoting alternatives to these types of plastics as well as encouraging organisations and residents to be more plastic aware and make a pledge to reduce their use of single-use plastics at colchester.gov.uk/colplasticpledge.

It is important that organisations making positive steps to reduce their environmental impact are recognised and we will promote local organisations that make a pledge to reduce their single-use plastics on our website.

Residents have told us how important this issue is to them and have fed back to us they would like local organisations to reduce their supply and use of single-use plastics and I hope that we can all work together to tackle this environmental issue.

Martin Goss

Borough councillor responsible for waste, environment and transport