UK Set To Ban Plastic Drinking Straws Across The Country

The United Kingdom is taking a big step towards addressing pollution by banning plastic drinking straws across the country in the near future. According to Environment Secretary Michael Gove, this is being done to resolve serious environmental concerns.

In a report by the Marine Conservation Society, it is estimated that UK gets about 8.5 billion straws every year and these straws are among the top 10 waste items found during beach cleanups. Straws – which usually require over two centuries to disintegrate – are likewise hazardous to marine life since sea creatures mistake them for food.

Banning plastic straws is a good thing.

In a Telegraph interview, Gove explained that the government seeks to do something about the negative impacts of plastic straws. He explained:

“If it is bad, then banning it is a good thing. But we have to take a balanced approach towards the EU.

“There are some good things about the EU but one of the things about being inside the EU is that there are some steps that we might to take environmentally but can’t yet.”

Plastic straws are wildlife killers!

Furthermore, Gove added:

“For most of us, they’re just a convenience. For wildlife, they are killers.

“The plastic straws we use and throw away so carelessly are lethal. They embed themselves in the noses of sea turtles, block the throats of dolphins and choke fish.

“All this so that humans can empty their glasses more quickly.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Theresa May has earlier expressed her goal to eliminate all avoidable plastic in UK within 25 years.

May has described plastic waste as being “one of the great environmental scourges of our time”. She even pointed out:

“In the UK alone, the amount of single-use plastic wasted every year would fill 1,000 Royal Albert Halls.”

Once implemented, this will be a big win for the environment – and the future generation.

Additionally, a government spokesperson also told BBC:

“We are committed through our 25-year environment plan to eliminating avoidable plastic altogether by the end of 2042 so we leave our planet in a better state than we found it.

“We are exploring a range of options, and have already introduced a world-leading ban on microbeads, and set out plans to extend the 5p plastic bag charge, improve recycling rates and explore plastic-free aisles in supermarkets.”