A toxic tide of plastic

FOLLOWING a Mail campaign to stem the poisonous tide of plastic bottles which blights our coast and countryside, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced a consultation on ways to reward the public for recycling drinks containers.

It was his strongest hint yet that he’ll give the go-ahead to a deposit scheme – believed by this paper to be the best way to ensure plastic bottles are taken back for disposal rather than simply discarded.

After slashing plastic bag use by imposing a 5p charge and banning plastic microbeads, such a scheme would be another massive contribution to cleaning up our polluted oceans, rivers and open spaces.

Scotland and Wales have already led the way. We trust Mr Gove’s intervention means England won’t be far behind.