WALES: Focus on Waste at National Eisteddfod

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 30th Jul 2004

Welsh Liberal Democrats will be using the Eisteddfod week to call for greater government action to tackle Wales' growing waste mountain.

Eisteddfod goers will be invited to sign a petition calling on the government to do more to make the Three Rs of waste management - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - more effective in cutting the volume of waste that is created and buried in landfill sites.

Mick Bates, the party's environment spokesperson said: "Wales has a reputation as one of the pioneers of sustainable development, but we must make real efforts if we wish to stay at the top of the league on this matter. Our petition calls for action to ensure all local authorities do their utmost to encourage more recycling by providing kerbside collection - the most effective form of recycling.

"We also want to see producers encouraged to reduce the amount of packaging on their products and for more incentives to re-use products, rather than just dumping them.

"We also need to develop greater markets for recycled plastics. Without this demand there is little incentive for local authorities to collect.

"Our increasingly disposable lifestyles are not sustainable, and the Welsh Liberal Democrats are committed to tackling this problem the smart way." Notes: Welsh Liberal Democrat leaflets being handed out on the Maes will be printed on recycled paper. Electricity supplied to Welsh Liberal Democrat HQ comes from renewable resources. The National Eisteddfod runs from July 31 to August 7 in the grounds of Tredegar House, Newport.