Gil Paterson MSP

  • Home
  • Press
  • BIO
  • Contact
  • Surgeries
  • Blog
  • Privacy
  • EU Nationals
  • Home
  • Press
  • BIO
  • Contact
  • Surgeries
  • Blog
  • Privacy
  • EU Nationals

Gil Paterson MSP condemns plastics in River Clyde

24/1/2018

Comments

 
Picture
PLASTICS in the River Clyde are contributing towards a worldwide environmental disaster, MSP Gil Paterson has said.

The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP has highlighted the problem at a trouble spot in Clydebank at Queens Quay.

A section of the shore is littered in bottles, container and manufactured debris washed up – and is a stark example of what ends up in the river
Mr Paterson’s call for action ties in with global condemnation of how plastics are polluting the ocean, killing marine life and even getting into food supplies.

He said: “It is estimated only 30 per cent of plastics we use are being recycled – the rest are ending up in landfills and increasingly in our oceans.

“In our oceans, plastics are causing the death of thousands of seabirds and sea turtles, seals and other marine mammals. Some rare species now face extinction due to the scale of the problem.
“The River Clyde itself is awash with plastics and what is not washed up will inevitably end up somewhere in the world’s oceans.

“I think everyone agrees we need to do more to tackle the way in which we dispose of plastics – especially the likes of plastic bottles.

“We need to double down on our efforts to recycle or risk ruining our oceans – the power authorities possess over our seas is simply not enough. We need to encourage a cultural shift, which I think is happening.

“In December, the European Parliament and Council voted through a new plan to recycle 65 per cent of urban waste but I am very saddened to see it has come to light the UK Tory Government opposes this plan despite making big claims about how they want to tackle plastics in our oceans.

“The UK Tory Government cannot grandstand about recycling targets then quietly oppose them when a proper initiative is launched – it’s absolute hypocrisy.”

ENDS
​
  • UK Government opposes EU recycling plan: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/24/uk-opposes-strong-eu-recycling-targets-despite-plastics-pledge
  • Plastic statistics: http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-statistics/
  • EU plastics plan and further statistics: https://news.sky.com/story/eu-pledges-to-make-all-plastic-packaging-recyclable-by-2030-11210035
Comments

    Author

    Press releases are prepared by Gil Paterson MSP's constituency office. Please contact Stuart.Crawford@Parliament.Scot for more information and media enquiries.

    Archives

    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Andy Hay, Rab,, steevithak, blondinrikard, Ninian Reid, NIAID