THE Women's Institute in general and Lickhill WI, in particular, are very concerned about the amount of waste generated by unnecessary packaging of supermarket products.

Many of our members are from the generation that remembers taking their own shopping bags, buying vegetables and fruit unwrapped, block salt, butter cut and wrapped in greaseproof paper, and sugar in sugarpaper bags. Ready meals were fish and chips or hot dogs wrapped in paper.

Much of this packaging was composted or used to wrap rubbish destined for the dustbin.

Now the Government is voicing its concern, as many landfill sites are full and there are fewer places to store the mountains of rubbish which we, as a nation, are producing.

As consumers we must take personal responsibility for the amount of waste we produce if we are to reduce the number of landfill sites which are an environmental eyesore and a health hazard.

It is very difficult to reduce waste if supermarkets, where the majority of us shop, do not also share this responsibility. If possible, we would like to see packaging eliminated or, if necessary for health and safety reasons, reduced to the absolute minimum.

This should be either compostable or biodegrade within a short time, as even recyclable packaging has an environmental impact.

It is the policy of our WI members and their families, wherever possible, to buy only those products which adhere to these principles. After all, it is the customer who has to bear the cost, in real terms, of excess packaging.

Tuesday this week was the WI Packaging Day of Action and we have written to all our local supermarkets which we consider sell a large number of products with an unnecessary amount of packaging.

We are anxious to bring to their notice the consequences of this and are asking them to please help us make a difference.

We understand that the customer is always right and WI members are some of their valued customers.

MRS CHERRY GREAVES

President, Lickhill WI

Lickhill Community Centre

Stourport