LOCAL jobs could be created if moves to set up a plastic recycling plant win support.

Green Party councillors Jon Barry and John Whitelegg have called a meeting to discuss the idea as part of a bid to ensure the district's plastic waste does not get buried in landfill sites.

The city council has withdrawn its kerbside collection of plastics, saying it can cost more than £1,000 to collect, clean, store and bale every tonne of plastic while the average value of the material is under £110.

"If the Council continues to bare the brunt of these costs it would take investment away from other important waste saving initiatives," says a leaflet to householders.

But Cllr Barry is 'extremely disappointed' by the decision, and is exploring answers to the problem.

"The best long-term solution is to set up a business locally to deal with our own plastic. This has been successfully done in a number of other towns and we want it to happen here," he says.

Cllr Whitelegg says: "By building a plant locally we will remove most of the costs - as well as providing local jobs."

The meeting to discuss setting up a local plant is on Wednesday, July 2, at 6pm in Lancaster Town Hall.

People with knowledge of plastics recycling or with energy to contribute to this project will be welcome to attend.