LGA calls for Easter egg waste crackdown

The Local Government Association has called on retailers to reduce Easter egg packaging or make it as recyclable as possible to avoid a knock-on effect for council waste budgets.

The organisation which represents 419 local authorities in England and Wales claims that 4,500 tonnes of waste packaging is expected to be generated over the Easter weekend and this could add as much as 250,000 to local government waste management costs.

Therefore, the Local Government Association (LGA) has urged retailers to ensure that unnecessary packaging is minimised and praised efforts undertaken so far to reduce waste and improve recyclability.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, vice chairman of the LGA Environment Board, said: Retailers and manufacturers have listened to the concerns of the public and reduced the amount of unnecessary packaging on Easter eggs. The nations bin collectors thank them for their efforts.

However, over the next fortnight, the UKs 29,000 refuse collectors will each be hefting an estimated 154kgs of Easter egg packaging into dustcarts, so theres definitely still more to be done.

Cllr Loakes said that, while eliminating packaging entirely was not an option, there should be an emphasis on reducing it as much as possible. And, the LGA said there was still work to be done by householders to ensure that the packaging was recycled at the kerbside.

Were calling on retailers and manufacturers to reduce packaging as much as possible, and ensure that all wrappers and cartons are readily recyclable, he said. Were also asking people to take the time to sort the recycling and ensure as little of the 4,500 tonnes of Easter egg packaging as possible ends up in landfill.

Packaging

Some local authority waste bodies, such as the Leicestershire Waste Partnership (LWP), have urged residents to take packaging into account over the Easter break. The LWP has launched a Think Packaging! campaign, which includes tips on creating Easter eggs and cards in order to cut down on packaging waste.

Tony Kershaw, chairman of the LWP and the county council cabinet member for waste, said: Packaging is needed to protect products and it can help food last longer, but excess packaging is a waste. We can help reduce the amount being sent to landfill here in Leicestershire this Easter by following a few simple tips.