Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment which detailed progress thus far on developing the project with the aim to reduce single use plastics within the Corporation and across the City.

The Director of the Built Environment explained that the work streams had the following aims:

·         Developing a refill culture through encouraging people to use drinking fountains and refill points across the Square Mile.

·         Businesses, workers and residents would be encouraged to sign up to pledges to eliminate using single use plastics.

·         The City Corporation would be looking at ways to eliminate litter and one initiative would be encouraging volunteers to take part in litter picking with Thames 21.

Members noted the importance of communications as part of this project and suggested that an app be created to advertise the nearest water bottle refill points. In response to a Member’s request that drinking fountains be provided, the Chairman noted that four refill points were already available with the aim of installing ten drinking points overall.

In response to a query on the level of funding for the project, the Director of the Built Environment advised that costs were estimated at £50-70k overall for the drinking fountains and £100k for the campaign, the Director added that the aim was to encourage behaviour change around the use of single use plastics.

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the report.