Plastic straws are supposed to be banned in England last April, but it was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on businesses, considering the burden it will incur on them. But this month, it will be put in force after six months of the original target date.
Upon its implementation, businesses will no longer be allowed to provide their customers with plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that many places and businesses would be affected by this ban, particularly the pubs and restaurants that were shut in April due to the lockdowns.
Plastic Straws Are Officially Banned In England
Banning Plastic Straws in England
Starting on Thursday, October 1, it will be illegal for businesses to provide plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds to people. But exemptions are also in place for people with medical conditions who might need plastic straws and protect disabled people.
According to the UK government, banning plastic straws is the latest step in the fight against single-use plastics to protect the environment and oceans. George Eustice, the UK environmental secretary, said that the government is committed to tackling the impact of single-use plastics on the environment.
The UK officials said that an estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers, and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used in England every year.
Scotland and Wales have already taken steps in reducing single-plastic use ahead of England. For instance, Scotland has already banned selling plastic cotton buds in 2019, and Wales have announced in March that it will be prohibiting various single-use plastic products.
Eustice said that the government's 5p charge on single-use plastic bags had cut sales by 95% in supermarkets, and they have already banned microbeads and are looking into recycling the single-use drinks containers. However, people with disabilities or medical conditions are exempted from the ban.
Read Also: P&G Aims to Halve Its Use of Virgin Petroleum Plastics by 2030: Here's How It Plans to Do So
Plastic Straws are Hurting the Environment
Straws, stirrers, bags, and cups are examples of single-use plastics that are convenient to use. However, convenience usually comes with a price that impacts the environment if they are not properly disposed of or recycled.
Fish, turtles, and other marine animals might confuse these plastic products like food, which then gets stuck inside them. About 90% of seabirds and sea turtle species have been found to get plastics within them, and within the next ten years, it is estimated that the number will increase for every three pounds of fish in the water.
Experts, environmentalists, and governments have seen that proper waste disposal and recycling will help reduce plastic trash in landfills and seas. But banning and refusing straws can also help reduce plastic pollution. If possible, try to ask the establishments if they have non-plastic options for straws to avoid using one.
Each person can help reduce plastic pollution and change the future of the oceans if they give up their habit of using single-use plastics, according to the World Wildlife organization.
Read More: Coca-Cola Uses 100% Recycled Plastic for their Bottles in the Netherlands and Norway
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