Prime minister Teresa May has stepped up the ongoing war against plastics by declaring that plastic straws and stirrers will be banned throughout the UK by the end of this year.
The pm made the announcement yesterday (Thursday 19 April) and has called on the Commonwealth heads of government to join the Uk in the fight against single-use plastics. “The Commonwealth is a unique organisation with a huge diversity of wildlife, and environments – so it is vital we act now,” she said.
A consultation will start later this year and a complete ban could be enforced as early as 2019.
Other work, such as the treasury’s research into the impact of a charge on disposable coffee cups (under consideration) and a deposit return scheme on plastic bottles (due to come into force by 2020), is also under way.
Campaigners are already calling for plastic packaging to be next on the agenda, with Greenpeace calling for the elimination of all non-recyclable plastic within the next year.
