Gove backs purge on plastic drink stirrers

CALLS for a ban on throwaway plastic drink stirrers have won support from the Government and the EU.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has backed the move following his promise to introduce a deposit scheme on bottles and cans.

Both he and European Commission environment spokesman Helmut Maurer have backed the #StirCrazy campaign to eradicate disposable plastic stirrers by 2020.

It came as McDonald’s said it will switch from plastic to paper straws at some outlets. The #StirCrazy campaign highlights how the environment is blighted by billions of plastic coffee stirrers which are used for a few seconds then thrown away.

Mr Gove, whose deposit return scheme is the latest victory for the Mail’s Turn The Tide on Plastic campaign, said: ‘Singleuse plastic can be lethal to our precious environment and wildlife.’ Professor Maurer added: ‘The long march toward a properly managed plastics economy starts with small steps. One small step is this campaign.’

Businesses are being urged to axe plastic stirrers and offer reusable wooden alternatives.

Mr Gove has also indicated plans for a ban on plastic straws – and yesterday McDonald’s announced it is switching to paper ones as a trial at selected outlets from May. The fast-food firm will also put plastic straw dispensers behind the counter in all 1,200 UK outlets so they are only distributed on request.

It said its straws are already 100 per cent recyclable, ‘but we know more can be done’.