MP pledges to reduce litter

Philip Dunne, a member of Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee, was one of 46 Conservative MPs to pledge to reduce their environmental impact for Lent this year.

This follows last year’s campaign, in which Mr Dunne also took part, which saw MPs cut down on their consumption of single-use plastics through pledges such as cutting down on the use of plastic water bottles, using refillable coffee cups, avoiding using plastic cutlery, and buying loose fruit and vegetables free from plastic packaging.

The campaign launches after the Government announced the first comprehensive update of the Resources and Waste Strategy in more than a decade. The new strategy will cut reliance on single-use plastics, end confusion over household recycling, tackle the problem of packaging by making polluters pay, and end the economic, environmental and moral scandal that is food waste.

Mr Dunne said: “I am delighted to join colleagues in reducing the impact of plastic waste on our environment for Lent. I am organising litter picks in South Shropshire, to help stop plastic litter affecting our environment and entering our rivers and streams, potentially finding their way into our oceans. I will also be shopping locally, to reduce food miles.

"While Lent is clearly only a short, defined period, we hope that this focus will help highlight the significant culture of throw away single use plastic in our daily lives, and how we can cut down on our use of plastic to better protect our environment over the longer term.”

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove MP said: “These environmental pledges for Lent are a great way of deepening our understanding of the steps we need to take to go further and faster in reducing waste, reusing resources and recycling.

“By working together, we can move away from being a ‘throw-away’ society to one that treads more lightly on the planet, ensuring that we leave our environment in a better state for future generations.”