Arthur J. Villasanta – Fourth Estate Contributor
London, United Kingdom (4E) – The United Kingdom will seemingly 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 monumental portions of plastic waste.
Prime Minister Theresa May mentioned 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 comply with the UK’s lead in tackling this rising worldwide drawback. Government knowledge reveals that some eight.5 billion plastic straws are thrown away within the UK yearly.
May claimed the UK was a “world leader” within the struggle 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 mentioned. “The Commonwealth is a singular organisation, with an enormous range 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 mentioned they may ban plastic straws at their occasions this summer time.
Bestival’s co-founder Rob Da Bank mentioned they had been “leading the global charge against unnecessary plastic”, because the group of festivals additionally pledged to get rid of 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,” mentioned Environment Secretary Michael Gove in regards to the ban on plastic straws. Gove additionally mentioned numerous retailers, bars and eating places are already lowering 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 aimed 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 mentioned different non-recyclable “problem plastics” must also be banned on the earliest alternative, and retailers should section out single-use plastics in their very own merchandise.
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