Food outlets which serve ‘food on the go’ are being urged to help more to reduce littering, after Stroud District Council agreed to ask the government to consider turning voluntary guidelines in to law.
The national Voluntary Code of Practice (VCOP) for Food on the Go provides a recommended framework for businesses to tackle litter.
It applies to any type of premises that sells food to take away, including fast food outlets, bakeries, corner shops, petrol forecourt shops and supermarkets.
The council’s Environment Committee has agreed to ask the Government to review the VCoP, with a view to making it mandatory.
The council’s Litter & Clean Environment Champion Councillor Gill Thomas said that the VCOP, which was introduced in 2002, needs updating to reflect changing litter trends and consumption habits.
The committee agreed that if the VCOP were to be made mandatory the regulations should be proportionate to the size and type of outlet.
She also plans to write to MPs and other councils in Gloucestershire asking them to support mandating the VCOP.
“A centrally developed, mandatory Code of Practice would provide clear, consistent expectations and would make business do more to deal with litter,” said Councillor Thomas after the meeting. “This would benefit communities by meaning cleaner streets for everyone. This will be a lengthy process but in time, with enough backers, I hope that government can be persuaded to consider making the VCOP mandatory.”
Stroud District Council spends more than £1million a year mainly on emptying litter bins, plus clearing fly tips and its statutory obligations to keep streets clean as the Principal Litter Authority.
Cllr Thomas added:
“In the meantime, SDC will continue to do everything we're already doing to raise awareness about the responsibilities businesses have to reduce litter, as well as using the new Gloucestershire Resources and Waste Partnership Litter Working Group as a catalyst for more joined up ways of working.”
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Picture: Gill Thomas with local litter-picking activist Eric Torrington of Litter Free.
The Code can be read here
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