A ban on plastic straws (plus drink stirrers and cotton buds) could be in place within a year under the latest government plans to cut pollution, announced on Monday (October 22) by environment secretary Michael Gove.
Launching a consultation on the proposals, the environment secretary referred to the success of the 5p charge on single-use plastic bags, which led to an 86% drop in their use at major supermarkets.
He vowed to ‘turn the tide on plastic pollution’ by removing the estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws and 316 million plastic stirrers used in England each year, many of which end up in rivers and seas.
The EU announced that it would introduce similar measures earlier this year, prompting calls for the UK to follow its lead.
“Our precious oceans and the wildlife within need urgent protection from the devastation throwaway plastic items can cause,” said Mr Gove. “I commend retailers, bars and restaurants that have already committed to removing plastic straws and stirrers, but we recognise we need to do more.”
“Today we step up our efforts to turn the tide on plastic pollution and ensure we leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it,” he added.
The proposed ban is expected to come into force at some point between October 2019 and October 2020. Medical use of plastic straws and any other necessary exemptions will be included in the legislation.
The proposed ban presents opportunities for cookshops and housewares stockists to offer alternatives to consumers, such as reusable straws from companies including Eddingtons, Green Pioneer and Klean Kanteen (from Whitby & Co).
Top: Plastic straws look set to disappear from shelves, making way for reusable alternatives.
