Plastic straws, cutlery and polystyrene food and drink containers look set to be banned in Wales under proposals from the Welsh government. It said the ban would be part of wider measures to make Wales the world’s top recycling nation . The plastics affected include straws, stirrers, cotton buds, balloon sticks, plates and cutlery, food and drinks containers made of expanded polystyrene, and products made from oxo-degradable plastic, such as certain types of carrier bags. Hannah Blythyn, the deputy minister for housing and local government, said a consultation on the proposals would take place in the coming months with restrictions due to be enforced next year. “The single-use plastics we want to ban are hard to recycle and often found on the beaches and seas around our coast, blighting our beautiful country and harming our natural and marine environments,” the minister said. “It is vital we don’t throw away our future – which is why we believe taking this direct action will have a significant impact on changing people’s behaviour and make them think about their waste when ‘on-the-go’. “The measures I am announcing today are part of a range of potential solutions to the plastic problem. I am […]
Welsh government plans to ban single-use plastics from next year

Latest Articles
These endangered monkeys kept getting hit by cars. Scientists had a clever solution.
Zanzibar red colobuses (Piliocolobus kirkii) are one of the most endagered species of African primates. (Image credit: Tim R. B. Davenport) Endangered primates that...
United Airlines: ‘No choice’ but to go carbon neutral
In 2019 there were 4.5 billion airline passengers worldwide, up from 2.1 billion in 2005 Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive ways...
Old Samsung Galaxy phones are recycled into medical devices
The smartphone captured images, and the Galaxy device used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse images for ophthalmic diseases. | Photo Credit: Samsung says the...
Turtles complete seemingly impossible journey thanks to a hidden ‘corridor’ through the Pacific
(Image credit: Shutterstock) North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta ) hatch on the shores of Japan and spend much of their...
Surfers Against Sewage launches long-term plastic waste clean-up
The public is being urged to clear plastic and litter from their local beaches, rivers and parks as part of a million-mile clean-up...
How affordable clean energy solutions can tackle energy poverty
As the energy industry makes the transition to clean energy it must consider costs for end users. Transition to clean energy must also...