UK government declared that it would carry out new controls on plastic items from next April and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed this news. Environmental groups have praised the step; however, also says that the Government needs to take far more decisive action. The environmental secretary confirmed that eight in ten responses from the general public supports a ban on plastic straws. On the other hand, nine in ten people support the ban on drink stirrers as well as on cotton buds.
Nevertheless, exemptions will permit those who need plastic straws for medical reasons or in case of any disability to buy them from registered pharmacies. They can also request in restaurants, pubs, and bars. The exemption will also be there for the use of plastic stemmed cotton buds for medical as well as scientific purposes.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated, ‘it is confirmed that a ban on plastic straws, drink stirrers as well as plastic stemmed cotton buds in England.’ It claims that its public consultation saw more than ‘80 percent of respondents supported a ban on the distribution and sale of plastic straws, 90 percent on drinks stirrers and 89 percent on cotton buds, and so DEFRA cities overwhelming public support for the new move.’
Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, supposed ‘ urgent and decisive step is required to tackle control of plastic pollution and protect our environment. These items are frequently used for just a few seconds; however, it takes hundreds of years to break down and which end up in our seas and oceans and harm marine life miserably.’
He also added that he expects that this step will ‘ guarantee that we will leave our environment in a safe and better state for future generations.‘ On the other hand, the London Evening Standard says that the measures mean ‘ millions of pounds could be saved on a yearly basis on cleanup efforts of used plastics.’
Estimation of plastic pollution
According to the estimated figure about 4.7bn plastic straws, 316m plastic stirrers as well as 1.8bn plastic stemmed cotton buds are used every year in England. As per Government, about 10 percent of cotton buds are flushed out all the way through toilets and which end up in waterways along with oceans. At present, approximately 150m tonnes of plastic are thought to pollute the world’s ocean as every year one million birds and more than 100,000 sea mammals die from consuming or else getting tangled in plastic refuse.
There are by now numerous questions that whether this ban will go far enough as will there be any exemptions for pubs and restaurants ‘ will permit them to issue plastic straws on request. Greenpeace political campaigner Sam Chetan-Welsh supposed that;’ these bans only scratched the surface and called for much bolder and bigger action from Government. It also includes targeting to reduce the production of single used plastics along with an inclusive deposit-return scheme for drink containers.’
This announcement follows the Government’s ban on the 5p charge and microbrads on single-use plastic bags that were distributed by major supermarkets and was dropped by 86 percent.
On the other hand Surfers against Sewage chief executive, Hugo Tagholm welcomed the bold step he mentioned this as a ‘really positive as well as a bold move in the right direction in the battle aligned with plastic pollution. He added that; stopping the production as well as the distribution of these plastic menaces will prevent them from polluting beaches worldwide. It will also help further drive plastic free options and many other options for the public so that they can actually make a more sustainable selection in their day to day life.’
