Councillors have been told of the progress made by market traders to reduce single-use plastic.

St Albans City and District have committed earlier this year to banning throw-away plastic at its offices, facilities and events.

At a meeting of the Community, Environment and Sport Scrutiny Committee last Thursday (September 5), councillors called for an information stall to be set up at the Charter Market to advise traders on alternatives to plastic.

A series of further actions have also been recommended to discourage the use of the product which is environmentally harmful.

So far there has been a ban on plastic cups from the council's offices and on Styrofoam at council-run events. Styrofoam has largely been phased out at the Charter Market with only one trader using it now until their stock runs out.

The committee’s chair Cllr Annie Brewster said: “I am very impressed by the amount of work that is going on across the city and district to reduce single-use plastics.

“In particular, the response of our Charter Market traders have been incredibly positive. I applaud the enthusiasm with which they got behind this vitally important issue.

“We have one of the leading street markets in the country so it is quite right that we consider ourselves to be trailblazers.

“On speaking to stallholders many have already removed or replaced unsuitable products and while others are keenly sourcing alternative materials.”

Traders have also been told they have until the end of this year to use up any supplies they have left of single-use plastic. It will also be banned from this year's Street Feastival on September 29.

It was also recommended at the meeting the council should work with its partner organisations including schools and town and parish councils on how to they can all tackle plastic.

The council's food waster contractor Veolia has arranged to meet with food businesses in the community to discuss options for recyclable food containers at takeaways.

Cllr Brewster added: "The gold star must go to the Eat Wholefoods stall. For nearly 24 years, I understand they have been using cellulose bags for all their products that, unlike normal plastic, break down within 12 months and can be composted in garden bins.

"They also offer eco-refill facilities for olive oil, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand wash, toiler cleaner, laundry liquid and fabric conditioner.

"It is clearly a complex science and the committee felt that we must not get complacent and continue to seek a number of improvements as well as further promote the issue.

"We also would like to see more on our website and an information stall to be set up in the centre of the market, sharing not only the steps the traders have taken but also to help members of the public understand how they can support banning single-use plastic in their own homes."