England to Ban Sale of Plastic Straws, Stirrers and Cotton Buds by April 2020

The UK first announced it would work towards a ban in April 2018, saying it would consult manufacturers to find alternatives and make sure there was time to make the necessary changes before it was implemented. Now, UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) have confirmed a ban. "Urgent and decisive action is needed to tackle plastic pollution and protect our environment," Gove said in the government announcement . "These items are often used for just a few minutes but take hundreds of years to break down, ending up in our seas and oceans and harming precious marine life ." We’re stepping up our fight against plastic waste. Today we’re confirming a ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds. From next April these items will only be available to people with medical needs or a disability. ➡️ https://t.co/SDWp0VEhzm #PassOnPlastic #25YEP pic.twitter.com/WAF907kzx6 — Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) May 22, 2019 Gove had said he was haunted by scenes of plastic harming ocean wildlife in David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II two years ago, which prompted a public outcry in the UK and encouraged government action, BBC News reported . In a public consultation […]

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