Decision details

The amendment in the name of Councillor Alan Schneiderman was put to the vote.

Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment in the name of Councillor Alan Schneiderman was declared LOST.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Peter Zinkin was put to the vote.

Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment in the name of Councillor Peter Zinkin was declared CARRIED.

The substantive motion as amended by Councillor Peter Zinkin was put to the vote.

Votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that:

Council recognises that:

1.     Around 150 million tons of new single-use plastic is made each year. In many cases there are practical alternatives available that are either re-usable or sustainable.

2.     The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has estimated that by weight there could be more plastic in oceans than fish by 2050.

3.     Single-use plastics litter Barnet parks and streams – damaging our green spaces and wildlife, while adding to costs for our residents.

Council notes that:

1.     Plastics ingested by animals not only kill many animals, but also lead to toxic transfer and contamination of animal and human food chains.

2.     The plastic bag charge, brought in by a Conservative government, has led to an 85% reduction in disposable plastic bag usage in England – with 9 billion fewer bags per year entering landfill or waste treatment.

3.     Households in Barnet recycle more than those in more than two thirds of London Boroughs.

4.     The government has completed its consultation to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme. Such schemes have successfully reduced single-use waste in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.

Council welcomes:

1.     The decision of the Environment Committee to join the North London Waste Authority plan to work with its constituent boroughs introduce low-plastic zones.

2.     The decision by Policy and Resources Committee to undertake a review of single-use plastic used by the Council and all Council commissioned services.

3.     The decision to instruct officers to explore more options to limit the use of single-use plastics, and the damage to the environment that they can cause, across the borough.

Council resolves to:

1.     Reduce single-use plastic waste, where feasible and practicable, by:

a)    Replacing single-use plastics used by the Council and all

b)    Commissioned services with sustainable or re-usable alternatives.

c)    Ensuring all future council procurement exercises minimise the use of single-use plastics.

d)    Encourage and promote community water-refill schemes

e)    Work with the NLWA to introduce low-plastic zones in Barnet

2.     Work with TfL and encourage the Mayor of London to install free water fountains across Barnet’s 30 town centres and other high footfall areas.

3.     Support the creation of a wide-ranging Deposit Return Scheme.

4.     Explore other ways to minimise plastic waste across the borough.