Manchester City Council to Vote on Evening News' "Turn to Tap" Campaign

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2008

Manchester To Take Action Against Bottled Water, Thanks to Lib Dem Councillors

A campaign by the Manchester Evening News to promote the availability of Tap Water in restaurants across the City could receive a major boost on Wednesday 9th July when the City Council votes on proposals by Liberal Democrat Councillors to stop buying bottled water and make filtered tap water available from all Council Premises. 

Liberal Democrat Shadow Executive Member, Cllr Iain Donaldson, will move a notice of motion welcoming the Manchester Evening News' campaign and calls upon the City Council to not only stop buying bottled water, but also to stop selling it from Council premises. 

Cllr Donaldson stated:

"We strongly endorse the MEN's campaign urging managers to provide free tap water to customers rather than expensive bottled water.  Tap water is as good for drinking as any bottled water.  Filtered tap water is superior to any bottled water." 

"With billions of plastic bottles lying in landfill sites, and bottled water being imported to the UK whilst 1.1 billion people are living without clean drinking water, it is time for the Council to lead change in this City that will bring about environmental benefits and help to alleviate poverty." 

Ends...  

The full Liberal Democrat motion reads: 

Bottled water 

This Council, in welcoming the 'bottled water' campaign of the Manchester Evening News, accepts that the City Council has a responsibility to lead opinion in the city. 

Council notes that, last year, Manchester City Council spent over £93,000 on bottled water. Council also notes that bottled water is sold from Council premises in many of our outlets. 

Council resolves -

1. To introduce filtered drinking water at all its premises.

2. To ban the provision and sale of bottled water at all its premises

3. To encourage the use of non-plastic, re-usable containers (such as glass bottles or flasks)

4. To encourage all suppliers of drinks to the City Council to supply their products in glass bottles rather than in plastic bottles or cans. 

We would urge that Council instruct officers to report back to the next meeting of the Executive about the implementation of this policy.