What they're saying in the United Kingdom
Lib Dems pledge to force retailers to take back used packaging
Josh Brooks, 26 April 2010
Retailers would be forced to allow customers to return used packaging under plans laid out today by the Liberal Democrats.
The proposal is laid out in the resurgent party's environmental manifesto, which was published this morning at the same time as Labour's green manifesto, which promised a major boost in on-the-go recycling.
Both manifestos set out how the parties, if elected, would move towards a ‘zero waste' Britain.
Retailers' pack return duty
The Lib Dems reveal in today's document that, were they to come to power, they would create a statutory duty on retailers and manufacturers "to accept the return of products and packaging from customers once they have come to the end of their useful life"
"This could include electrical equipment, plastic bags, bottles and furniture [and would begin] with a pilot on carrier bags and mobile phones," the manifesto says.
The Lib Dems also promise to require better standards of design and durability from products and "reduce excess packaging to improve resource efficiency" and pledge to promote anaerobic digestion that would generate energy from food and farm waste.
Separated public bins
Meanwhile Labour's green manifesto, ‘A green future fair for all', promises to ban recyclable and biodegradable materials from landfill and push on-the-go recycling with German-style separated public bins on the street and in shopping centres.
The manifesto also highlights the reduction in the use of single-use carrier bags in recent years and said that a Labour government would "continue to work with suppliers to reduce plastic bag use and will reinforce regulations to reduce unnecessary packaging".
The Conservative party has not yet published a green manifesto, although it has also pledged action to move towards a zero-waste Britain in its main manifesto.
Josh Brooks, 26 April 2010
Retailers would be forced to allow customers to return used packaging under plans laid out today by the Liberal Democrats.
The proposal is laid out in the resurgent party's environmental manifesto, which was published this morning at the same time as Labour's green manifesto, which promised a major boost in on-the-go recycling.
Both manifestos set out how the parties, if elected, would move towards a ‘zero waste' Britain.
Retailers' pack return duty
The Lib Dems reveal in today's document that, were they to come to power, they would create a statutory duty on retailers and manufacturers "to accept the return of products and packaging from customers once they have come to the end of their useful life"
"This could include electrical equipment, plastic bags, bottles and furniture [and would begin] with a pilot on carrier bags and mobile phones," the manifesto says.
The Lib Dems also promise to require better standards of design and durability from products and "reduce excess packaging to improve resource efficiency" and pledge to promote anaerobic digestion that would generate energy from food and farm waste.
Separated public bins
Meanwhile Labour's green manifesto, ‘A green future fair for all', promises to ban recyclable and biodegradable materials from landfill and push on-the-go recycling with German-style separated public bins on the street and in shopping centres.
The manifesto also highlights the reduction in the use of single-use carrier bags in recent years and said that a Labour government would "continue to work with suppliers to reduce plastic bag use and will reinforce regulations to reduce unnecessary packaging".
The Conservative party has not yet published a green manifesto, although it has also pledged action to move towards a zero-waste Britain in its main manifesto.
