You can read my latest monthly column for the Witney Gazette, here:
It is a pleasure to be back writing my regular column after a hiatus during the local election period. Since I last wrote to you all, I have been extremely busy in West Oxfordshire and in Westminster – you can see all that I have been up to on my website at www.robertcourts.co.uk.
I am particularly proud of the progress being made on raising awareness about reducing plastic waste. I am sure many of you will have seen news reports about the impact plastic waste is having on our oceans, and perhaps also watched Blue Planet on the BBC which clearly brought home the impact we are having on our environment. Although far from the sea in West Oxfordshire, the waste we produce here can end up in landfill sites, travel downstream from our rivers to the ocean, or simply clog up our streams and rivers here.
I welcome the Government’s ban on microbeads and the recent announcement about plans to ban plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds. Although it sounds like a small step, we throw away 8.5 billion straws each year in the UK. It is essential that we build on the success of initiatives such as the 5p plastic bag charge – where 80% fewer bags have been used since it was introduced in 2016 – to bring about a change in our habits and mindsets.
Key to bringing about consumer change is to put the facilities in place to ensure that acting environmentally does not become a cumbersome burden or – quite simply – the changes won’t stick.
For example, I know that the Government is also looking at a ‘reward and return’ scheme for plastic bottles. An excellent incentive to encourage recycling, but if we also create more public places to refill your own water bottle that will decrease the need to buy plastic in the first place. I will be looking to work with the Council to see what can be done to create and promote water refill points throughout West Oxfordshire.
To change your lifestyle is hard. I am sure many of you have, like me, adapted to carrying a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and carrier bag around with you – and it is certainly not easy to remember everything! But once you make a small change, even if it is just saying no to a drinking straw at a restaurant, it is immensely satisfying to know that you are making a small difference.
West Oxfordshire is already leading the way, as we are one of the top five local authorities for our recycling, reuse and composting rate – an excellent achievement! I am really looking forward to looking at how we can all continue to improve and preserve our area for generations to come.
If you want to speak to me about this or any other issue, please email me at robert@robertcourts.co.uk. I also send out a regular email newsletter where I keep thousands of you updated on all I have been up to in West Oxfordshire and in Parliament – I would welcome you to sign up if you are interested at www.robertcourts.co.uk.
Published on 30.05.18 in the Witney Gazette.
