BRADFORD Council will hold a number of "information gathering" sessions to see how the authority can cut down on single use plastics in the future.

Three sessions will be held in the Autumn, and will feature representatives from local businesses, including major supermarket chains, as well as environmental groups and Councillors.

Recommendations on how the Council should treat single use plastics will then be presented in the new year, with a view to shaping future policies for council offices and local authority run buildings such as leisure centres.

In recent years there has been a national shift in public opinion away from using single use plastics, with the introduction of charges for shopping bags, and numerous bars and restaurants doing away with plastic straws.

Earlier this month Bradford based Morrisons announced it would be trialling "reverse vending machines" that would see customers given vouchers for every plastic bottle they return to the store - with a trial starting in its Skipton branch.

It is thought that the supermarket chain will be among the business who attend the sessions, which will start in September.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: "Following the Council resolution and further discussion at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee about single use plastics, three information gathering sessions have been set up in September, October and November.

"Councillors, Council officers, local interest groups and interested representatives have been invited to attend.

"A full report with recommendations will be written and taken back to the overview and scrutiny committee early in the New Year."

The first session is expected to take place on September 19.