I was thrilled to visit Culvers House Primary School this afternoon to speak with Year 4 about single-use plastics and protecting our environment.
Year 4 have been learning about plastic waste this term and took the time to write some fantastic letters to share their thoughts and ask important questions. This included the affect plastics can have on our animals, oceans, and green space, what I am doing locally as MP for Carshalton and Wallington to tackle plastic waste, and what the Government is doing to reduce single-use plastics.
I was pleased to answer these questions in my letter to Year 4 and visit them in person today to take further questions and talk about life as an MP. I was incredibly impressed with the intelligent questions the children had, as well as the fantastic school atmosphere in what has been a difficult year with Coronavirus.
As part of the Government approach to tackle single-use plastic, I was pleased to see the plastic bag charge introduced in 2015 and recently increase to 10p per bag. This has been followed by a ban on plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds in October 2020. This is a great start, but I am fully aware that we need to be doing much more to reduce the impact plastic waste has on our community and planet. I’m keen to see schemes delivered locally such as a bottle deposit scheme which would provide a huge incentive for people to recycle their plastic bottles instead of them ending up in incinerators, landfills, and our streets. Ministers have confirmed that deposit return schemes will begin to be introduced from 2023, however I want to see this introduced far sooner and will continue to push Ministers to consider Carshalton and Wallington as a potential pilot area.
I look forward to returning to Culvers House Primary next academic year when hopefully I can speak in a whole-school assembly about the things I get up to on a daily basis and answer more questions from the fantastic pupils.
If you would like to write to me or invite me to visit your school, please email me at [email protected].