Arthur J. Villasanta – Fourth Estate Contributor
London, United Kingdom (4E) – The United Kingdom will probably ban the sale and use of plastic straws and plastic-stemmed cotton buds as a part of the federal government’s bid to slash the nation’s huge portions of plastic waste.
Prime Minister Theresa May stated plastic waste was “one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world.” She urged leaders on the latest Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that ended April 20 to observe the UK’s lead in tackling this rising worldwide downside. Government information exhibits that some eight.5 billion plastic straws are thrown away within the UK yearly.
May claimed the UK was a “world leader” within the battle towards plastic waste. She emphasised the nation’s ban on plastic luggage; the ban on microbeads and the announcement of a session on introducing a deposit return scheme for plastic drinks bottles.
“Alongside our domestic action, this week we are rallying Commonwealth countries to join us in the fight against marine plastics,” she stated. “The Commonwealth is a novel organisation, with an enormous variety of wildlife, environments and coastlines.
“Together we can effect real change so that future generations can enjoy a natural environment that is healthier than we currently find it.”
More than 60 UK music festivals, together with Bestival in Dorset and Boomtown in Hampshire, have stated they may ban plastic straws at their occasions this summer season.
Bestival’s co-founder Rob Da Bank stated they have been “leading the global charge against unnecessary plastic”, because the group of festivals additionally pledged to remove all single-use plastic by 2021.
“It’s a worldwide emergency – that’s why we’re choosing to act. It’s also why we’re working with other Commonwealth countries,” stated Environment Secretary Michael Gove concerning the ban on plastic straws. Gove additionally stated a lot of retailers, bars and eating places are already decreasing plastic use, with the plastic bag ban set to be prolonged from main retailers to all retailers.
Scotland’s Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham introduced earlier this 12 months a plan to ban plastic straws, following an identical transfer geared toward banning the sale and manufacture of plastic-stemmed cotton buds.
Greenpeace UK and Friends of the Earth each welcomed the announcement as a “step forward” however each additionally warned extra motion can be wanted. Greenpeace stated different non-recyclable “problem plastics” also needs to be banned on the earliest alternative, and retailers should part out single-use plastics in their very own merchandise.
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