Plastic straws , Q - baksheesh , and other single - employment plastics are set to be censor in the UK as early as next year . The announcement has been made in the backwash of more knowingness of howour overuse of plasticsis pollute the marine environment , killing birds and mammals and even findingits way onto our platesafter being eaten by Pisces .
Plastic is flowing into the sea at a rate of around8 million tonnes ( 8.8 million short ton ) every single year , choking everything from whales and dolphins to plankton . The move was timed to concur with the confluence of Commonwealth head of state that is presently happening in the UK , with Prime Minister Theresa May hop-skip that it will encourage these nations to likewise address the global issue .
In the UK alone over 8 billion plastic straws are thrown away every single class , while Q - tip flushed down the toilet are one of the most important sources of marine befoulment , and end up being run through by mammals and wench .
“ Alongside our domesticated action , this week we are ride Commonwealth countries to link up us in the combat against marine charge card , ” Prime Minister Theresa Maysaid . “ The Commonwealth is a unique system , with a huge diversity of wildlife , environment and coastlines . ”
“ Together we can set up tangible change so that future generations can enjoy a natural environment that is healthier than we currently find it . ”
The UK has already brought into force atax on single - use plastic bags , of which the dramatic impact is already being watch . This has been adopt by a proscription onthe production of microbeads , with a ban on their sale coming into force later this year . Aplastic feeding bottle yield schemeis also expected to be set up . All the evidence so far is showing that these course of unmediated activity by the government really are working .
Use of plastic bag crash by90 percentfollowing the enforcement of a 5p ( 7¢ ) charge for them , mean that an amazing 9 billion fewer dish are in distribution . This has already been reflected in the nautical surroundings as a recent study found that the number ofplastic bags spotted on the seaflooraround the country has fall by an incredible 30 percent .
“ It is only through government , business and the public working together and the world work together that we will protect our environment for the next generation , ” the UK ’s Environment Secretary Michael Gove said , consort toThe Guardian .
The next step is for the government to begin a consultation , which is expect to start in 2018 , with a possible ban on single - use plastics come into strength as early on as next year .
