Thame market trader caught selling fake eco bags

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is urging residents to check their food sacks after a Thame market trader was caught selling normal, uncompostable plastic bags carrying the text: “This bag is fully biodegradable and 100% compostable” to unwitting members of the
public.

Council waste contractors, Verdant, caught the trader selling the bogus bags after collection crews noticed several food bins in Thame were contaminated with the plastic looking sacks. Any contaminated food bins
using these bags would unfortunately have to go to landfill, which is bad news for the environment and
costs the council and ultimately taxpayers more money in fines if it fails to meet government targets for reducing the amount of rubbish the county disposes of.

Steve Bishop, South Oxfordshire District Council Strategic Director responsible for waste, is asking residents to be on their guard when purchasing caddy liners. He said: “These bags even carry the correct
reference number EN 13432, yet they are not compostable starch liners.

“The market trader was selling normal supermarket carrier bags with the text printed on, so please do not use them. You can buy more liners from most supermarkets but please use biodegradable cornstarch bags and not plastic bags. Most supermarkets
stock suitable liners in the aisle with the bin liners.”

You need to look for sacks marked biodegradable or eco-sack/ compostable. Compostable starch bin liners are much thinner, smaller and have a matt finish. As an alternative, you can also use a couple of sheets of
newspaper to line the caddy.

Visit the council?s website for a list of places stocking caddy liners at: www.southoxon.gov.uk/foodwaste
or call 03000 610 610 for further advice.