Tax the plastic bag mountain says local Lib Dem Euro MP

2.57.58pm GMT Mon 7th Nov 2005

A small charge on plastic bags should be amongst a series of measures to clean up Yorkshire's streets, says local Liberal Democrat Euro MP, Diana Wallis.

Launching her campaign in Leeds, Diana Wallis MEP said:

"It is estimated that in Yorkshire & the Humber region alone about one billion plastic bags are distributed every year.

"Plastic bags litter the environment, pollute our seas and cause the death of birds and other animals as a result.

"A small tax introduced in Ireland in 2002 has been a huge success, encouraging people to reuse bags without creating waste. Other countries are now following suit. The money raised could be used specifically to pay for environmental and recycling projects.

"It is time real action was taken to clear the plastic bag mountain."

Photo: Diana Wallis MEP launches the plastic bag tax campaign, along with local councillors and activists, at the Autumn Conference of the Yorkshire & the Humber Liberal Democrats in Leeds (Civic Hall) on Saturday 5th November.