In a report submitted to the General Council of Val-de-Travers, the Municipal Council recommends classifying the socialist motion aimed at creating a municipal system of reusable tableware. This decision is based on in-depth analyzes of costs, logistics and the potential impact of such a measure on the local market.
A motion in response to the ban on single-use plastics
Adopted on November 20, 2023, the socialist motion aimed to launch a study on the feasibility of a municipal reusable tableware system. The initiative was part of a context of a ban on single-use plastics, imposed from January 1, 2023 in public spaces, community halls and events financed by municipal subsidies. The motion proposed to cover the costs of purchasing, storing and cleaning the parts, while exploring the possibility of preferential rates for local associations and the involvement of civilians or civil protection in the management of the equipment.
A growing reusable tableware market
Since the ban came into force, local associations and companies have massively adopted reusable tableware by sourcing from regional and cantonal suppliers. The Municipal Council underlines that the current dynamic, favored by the rise in power of new local actors, makes the creation of a municipal system superfluous. Indeed, the establishment of a municipal rental service would risk stifling private initiative and monopolizing already limited municipal resources.
“Creating a communal system of reusable tableware would go against the current positive dynamic,” the report states. Efforts to promote sustainability, through private competition and subsidies to local associations, are proving effective and allowing local actors to opt for practical and economical solutions.
Too high a cost for the community
Implementing a municipal reusable tableware system would represent a significant investment, with the acquisition of equipment, logistical management and washing of parts. These costs could weigh heavily on the municipal budget, without guarantee of sufficient added value. The Municipal Council considers that support for associative initiatives and the use of private suppliers remain more reasonable and sustainable alternatives.
The municipality relies on subsidies
Rather than investing in a municipal system of reusable tableware, the Municipal Council favors the use of subsidies to encourage local associations to stock up on reusable tableware. This model makes it possible to support the associative world without creating direct competition with the private sector. The recommendation of the Municipal Council is therefore to classify this motion, relying on a subsidy model which has already proven its effectiveness.
Next step: decision of the General Council on November 18
The General Council of Val-de-Travers will decide on this classification recommendation on November 18. The decision will be decisive for the future of local environmental policies and municipal involvement in the field of reusable tableware. To be continued.
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