VISIBLE signs that manufacturers are reducing unnecessary packaging has been noted by Cotswold District Council.

The authority, which is currently the best performing council in Gloucestershire in relation to recycling, says it has welcomed the environmentally-friendly approach which some major manufacturers have adopted recently to reduce the amount of packaging waste, and hopes that this will lead to improvements in recycling practices generally.

Commenting on a recent reduction in the weight of packaging found in waste across the District, Councillor Sue Coakley, the district council's Cabinet member said: “We are beginning to see a marked change in the packaging practices of many major manufacturers. The penny has dropped that they don’t always have to use both inner and outer wrappers for some items, and the new thinner plastic used for water bottles is also a big step in the right direction.

“These are very visible signs that the packaging industry is taking steps to cut back on the amount of waste going to landfill and, while many of the residents in this district also get the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ message loud and clear, it would be great to see even more people following their lead.

"We are currently the best performing council in Gloucestershire in terms of recycling with only about 40 per cent of our waste going to landfill. But that is still a significant amount, and I am sure that we can improve on this figure. We recently urged residents to join the national #Pledge4plastics initiative and recycle at least one extra plastic bottle per household each week and it would be much appreciated if they could go one better and embrace all forms of recycling.“