LIB DEMS LEADS DEBATE INTO TACKLING EXCESS PACKAGING

8.52.03am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Jun 2008

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson, has led a debate in the Scottish Parliament about tackling excess packaging.

Although much of the legislation governing excess packaging is reserved to Westminster, Mr Hume is urging the Scottish Government to use the devolved powers available to them to improve recycling and waste minimisation rates.

Jim Hume said:-

"The UK Government's Waste Resources Action Programme says that families in the UK now spend some £470 on packaging each year - one sixth of their food budget. The UK dumps 5 million tonnes of packaging each year - Scotland's share of that is 1 million tonnes.

"Much of the legislation governing excess packaging is reserved to Westminster where Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson is leading the fight to change the law on packaging. But this doesn't mean that the Scottish Government can wash its hands of this issue. My motion, calling on the Scottish Government to use devolved powers to tackle this issue has attracted cross party support and will be debated by MSPs today.

The MSP continued:-

"I want to see tackling excess packaging as a central objective for the Scottish Government's Supermarket Summit. This should be backed up by Ministers working with product designers and manufacturers to encourage them to use sustainable designs and materials. The Scottish Government could also develop improved packaging guidelines and should make it easier for consumers to complain if they feel the packaging around products is unnecessary."