WILTSHIRE Council's penalty charge notice bags are changing in the new year and will be biodegradable and recyclable.

The new bags, which will come into affect from January 2, comply compostability standards, which ensures a minimum of 90 per cent biological degradation within six months, and a minimum of 90 per cent physical degradation within 12 weeks.

The council says the bags also do not contribute to the decline of composted material quality, as established via ecotoxicity tests.

Councillor Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “Several thousand penalty charge notice tickets are issued each year, so although this may seem like a small step, we want to take every opportunity we can to reduce the amount of plastic we create and avoid sending it to landfill.

“We know that the sight of a parking ticket is never a happy one for our residents, but at least if they do get a ticket they can take some comfort in the fact that the bags used are both biodegradable and recyclable, minimising the environmental impact of each penalty charge notice we issue.

“Wiltshire Council is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and by taking steps such as this to reduce waste, we can make a difference.”