Burnham-On-Sea’s coastal officer – who is overseeing the campaign to make local beach cleaner – has this week welcomed an announcement by the Government that it intends to ban plastic straws and cotton buds in England in order to cut plastic waste.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who trailed the idea of banning plastic straws in February, will launch a consultation on the plans later this year.
“We’re going to consult on what the best way is in order to get rid of straws, get rid of stirrers and also get rid of plastic stemmed cotton buds that we use so many of,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “It’s a worldwide emergency – that’s why we’re choosing to act.”
Regular beach cleans in Burnham-On-Sea and Berrow are taking place to remove plastic debris, which includes hundreds of plastic straws and plastic cotton buds.
Tanya Cox, Litter Free Coast and Sea Coastal Officer in Somerset, pictured above right with Berrow beach clean organiser Honour Greenslade, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The announcement is certainly another step in the right direction but I would welcome more action on other ‘problem plastics’.”
“The ban is proposing to tackle plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, many of which have already been swapped for more sustainable options.”
“I would love to see action being taken that improves plastic resource use – from handling and product design all the way through to recycling processes.”
Mr Gove said a number of retailers, bars and restaurants were already cutting plastic use, with the plastic bag ban set to be extended from major retailers to all retailers.
Greenpeace UK and Friends of the Earth have welcomed the announcement as a “step forward” but both also warned more action would be needed.
Greenpeace’s Louise Edge said other non-recyclable “problem plastics” should also be banned at the earliest opportunity and retailers must take responsibility to phase out single-use plastics in their own products.
Friends of the Earth’s Julian Kirby said the “only long-term solution is a complete phase-out of all but the most essential plastics”.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday that plastic waste is “one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world”.
