Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot has refused to give an unequivocal commitment to match EU bans on single-use plastic.

Although he said he ’would like’ to match EU targets in the island, when pressed in the House of Keys this week, he repeatedly refused to make any commitment unconditional.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) made one last try: ’We have heard from our Environment Minister that he would like to commit.

’What I would like him to say is that he will commit, because that sends an important message to the people who are very concerned about this issue on our island.

’Will he now do so? Yes, or no?’

But Mr Boot stood firm. He said: ’I do not make up policy on the trot in the House. I have reiterated a commitment to work with the proposals and that is where I stand at the moment.’

Earlier, Mr Boot said his department welcomed the EU parliament decisions ’but notes that these have yet to be agreed by the EU Council’.

He added: ’We await the detail and final ratification. When this is available we will refer the same to the Council of Ministers’ environment and infrastructure committee.’

The minister tried to give an assurance in the face of concerns about how committed he was towards reducing plastic use.

’We share the public’s concern to address the issue of single-use plastics, which is why we recently brought forward the action plan to reduce government use and are committed to bringing forward an island-wide plan over the coming months.’

He said plastic bottles were sent off island for recycling ’but where there is either no recycling option on island or the items have not been separated from the residual waste stream for recycling the Energy from Waste Plant is the primary disposal method’

’We would be keen to match the EU suggested target for recycling 90% of plastic by 2025. However, so to do would require a significant expansion in recycling facilities and we are watching closely what happens in the UK wider pilots of such schemes.’