UK kickstarts bans on single-use plastic

This week has seen the UK make a step in the right direction with a ban on the sale of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds.

Here is the link to the article on the BBC News website

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54366461

This is a really positive move and shows a level of commitment to the problem, hopefully it is the start of more action to follow.

Is this a problem locally?

Yes! Absolutely it is. The images as the top of this page were all taken on local beaches and there are many more of them. This move will help prevent these items from washing up on beaches around the world.

How does it affect me?

Unless you have a disability or medical need you won’t be able to purchase these items any longer or find them in pubs and restaurants.

What’s the alternative?

There are several alternatives available. The absolute ideal would be for people to stop using these items completely, particularly straws and stirrers. Unfortunately as many wooden and cardboard varieties of these items are found on local beaches as their plastic versions.

The alternatives for straws are stainless steel, bamboo, cardboard and there are many on sale now.

The alternatives for stirrers are wood or a plain old spoon!

The alternatives for cotton buds are bamboo and 100% cotton wool. There is also a re-usable version available now made of silicon.

When it comes to takeaway food and drinks, you could consider buying a travel set of reusable cutlery so you don’t need to use single-use straws, stirrers or cutlery at all! There are some lovely sets available to buy from various sources now and can be easily kept in a handbag or car.