A council will cut down on single-use plastics in its offices and work with schools, businesses and other organisations to reduce their use.

Replacing plastic cups with reusable alternatives and using biodegradable parking ticket holders are among the measures set out in Haringey Council’s single-use plastics action plan, which was approved by councillors on Tuesday (September 15).

As well as cutting their use in council buildings, the local authority will work with schools to reduce single-use plastics and educate children on sustainability.

It will also provide information for event organisers and businesses such as takeaways on how to use sustainable alternatives to plastics.

Every year, eight million tonnes of plastic ends up in the world’s oceans, killing more than a million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals, according to a council report.

More than 80 per cent of marine litter is plastic, and single use items, such as plastic bottles or straws, are some of the most commonly found plastics in the world’s oceans, the report adds.

The council says using biodegradable parking ticket holders will prevent the use of enough single-use plastic to cover an area the size of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the course of two years.

Haringey’s Liberal Democrat group, which called on the council to ditch disposable plastic items two years ago, said it had taken too long to introduce the action plan.

Cllr Scott Emery (Lib Dem, Muswell Hill) said the plan contained “simple steps” that could have been put in place earlier.

Cllr Kirsten Hearn, (Labour, Stroud Green) cabinet member for climate change and sustainability, said: “The council took the time it needed to ensure that we got this action plan right, learning from other councils around their actions, and applying those successes to our own plan – to ensure that Haringey’s were meaningful and delivered positive outcomes.”

Cllr Hearn explained that the action plan had also been delayed for several months by the coronavirus pandemic.

She added: “The council, working with communities, businesses, and our strategic partners, is determined to reduce our carbon footprint and be more environmentally friendly in everything we do.”