BURY will become one of the first plastic free councils in the country.

Plans to become a plastic free community by 2022 were approved at a council meeting tonight.

Plastic free community spaces will be created in parks, libraries and community and leisure centres.

Community groups who share ambitions to support the plastic free agenda will be able to bid for a share of £20,000 from the council’s social capital fund.

The council has also committed to developing a plastics strategy and incorporate the plastic free requirement in the council’s social value policy.

This means that, where possible, it will aim to have a plastic free supply chain by 2026.

Cllr Kevin Thomas, who put forward the motion, described plastic as a “wonder material” that has become a victim of its own success.

The former product design teacher told councillors plastic overuse is a “huge problem” that needs to be dealt with.

He said: “If our council agree to pass this motion, our council will become plastic free and that’s a powerful message to everyone who lives, works and visits Bury.”

Cllr Karen Leach told her colleagues that this policy would send a message to the borough and beyond that this is the right way forward.

She said: “As custodians of this planet, it’s incumbent on each and every one of us to act. And as a council it’s incumbent on us to lead the way.”

All councillors voted for the plan except for Conservative councillor Roy Walker who abstained.

He supported ambitions to reduce plastic pollution but did not agree with the aim to become completely plastic free.

The motion follows the launch of the first plastic free shop in Greater Manchester, Fulfilled, which opened in Ramsbottom in September.

Since 2011 the borough has also seen a significant increase in recycling with figures up from 27 per cent of waste to 60 per cent of waste in 2018.

Bury Council was also the first in England to debate the introduction of deposit return schemes.

The schemes could see people paying a small upfront deposit when buying items such as drinks containers which are then refunded on return of the empty item.